Thread by @jzfriedman

Last week, we @PENamerica called the suspension of a diversity and ethics class at Boise State "unfathomable" -- an extreme reaction to halt over 50 classes for 1,300 students. Glad to see @michelleinbklyn discuss the issues surrounding it today: nyti.ms/3w48rPg

The classes were cancelled b/c of the alleged existence of a video of ONE zoom class where a student was degraded. That's unfortunate and concerning, yes, but University overreacted. Cancelled everything w/o actually seeing video. & there were no formal complaints lodged over it.

This week the University announced that the classes would no longer be suspended... But the catch is that they're being run asynchronously, while an external law firm conducts an investigation. So the classes aren't exactly suspended but they also aren't exactly running as normal

It's really quite a worrying precedent for academic freedom, to think that objections and allegations like this could be used to justify suspending 52 classes ! 36 faculty are no longer teaching this class as they planned! Wild.

Our full statement:
pen.org/press-release/…

Whether you believe this is the direct influence of state legislators or not, It's pretty clear that the climate and scrutiny surrounding this diversity class contributed to its widespread suspension. The threat of public budget cuts are pretty serious for higher ed right now. $$

Part of a worrying wave of state level efforts to infringe on academic freedom and free speech in higher ed, which I recently discussed with @JeffreyASachs @lindsayaellis and @Musa_alGharbi . What we are seeing in Idaho, Iowa, elsewhere is not isolated.
pen.org/event/the-comm…