1/ @UChicago Prof. Dorian Abbot is currently being targeted by student activists for questioning his department's DEI policies. They claim his opinions "threaten the safety and belonging of all underrepresented groups" and are "an aggressive act." They issued 11 absurd demands. 
2/ Many of these demands would result in the humiliation and social ostracization of Prof Abbot. They demand stripping him of titles, courses, and privileges. Also want the department to publicly denounce him and require DEI statements on all future department job applications.
3/ This is an ideological witch hunt. I've censored student names on the document (to protect their individual rights to free expression), but look how nearly every student prominently displays their pronouns.
Not a lot of ideological diversity on display here.
Not a lot of ideological diversity on display here.
4/ @UChicago is known for their strong commitment to freedom of expression in their famous "Chicago Principles" which that state:
“The principle of complete freedom of speech on all subjects has from the beginning been regarded as fundamental in the University of Chicago" and...
“The principle of complete freedom of speech on all subjects has from the beginning been regarded as fundamental in the University of Chicago" and...
5/ that "this principle can neither now nor at any future time be called into question.”
In response to the student demands I have helped draft a letter defending Prof Abbot from these attacks, hosted by @SpeechUnion, urging @UChicago to uphold the Chicago Principles.
In response to the student demands I have helped draft a letter defending Prof Abbot from these attacks, hosted by @SpeechUnion, urging @UChicago to uphold the Chicago Principles.
6/ We are currently acquiring signatures from academics and prominent public figures. Thank you @sapinker for your early support!
If YOU want to help, you can sign this petition defending Prof Abbot's right to free expression without punishment. change.org/p/university-o…
If YOU want to help, you can sign this petition defending Prof Abbot's right to free expression without punishment. change.org/p/university-o…
7/ Please read Prof Abbot's account of events and his opinions about his department's DEI policies below. This document contains links to the original slides Prof Abbot had uploaded to YouTube, which is what the student letter and demands are responding to.drive.google.com/file/d/1J_vf46…
We are also creating a separate list of signatures for academics. These signatures will be attached to the Free Speech Union letter and sent to @UChicago President Robert J. Zimmer and the faculty in Prof Abbot's department. To sign, use the link below:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…
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