Devika L.P. Carr, Esq.’s Post

The world is witnessing a loss of faith in both capitalism and democracy, which seemed nearly unimaginable just a generation ago. Both are under attack by a decline in civic virtue, in the form of honesty and civility, in politics, the media, academia, and other institutions. The reestablishment of civic virtue should be our priority. Glad to see this group of College and University presidents dedicating themselves to advancing critical inquiry, free expression, and civil discourse on campus. https://lnkd.in/eJRuS2xZ

What is the spirit of inquiry? "At its root it is the virtue of curiosity, along with the many habits of mind that spring from being curious. It is a spirit that believes in insistent questioning, even at the risk of irritating those who claim to have the answers. It is a spirit that delights in conversation, which is the exchange of thoughts, not a contest of wills. It is a spirit that is aware of its own ignorance, an ignorance that only grows the more we learn. It is a spirit that cultivates the art of listening patiently and intently; of processing an idea, a fact or an argument before we respond to it. It is the spirit of second-guessing ourselves and re-examining settled convictions, including those of the ideological, religious or cultural communities to which we belong." A beautiful image for what higher education could be, from Bret Stephens. https://lnkd.in/gGyffqZY

Thank you Claire Zagorski for posting this. In case you didn't know, Texas passed a draconian bill SB17 that prohibited public institutions of higher education to engage in certain specified diversity, equity, and inclusion activities. The fallout of this bill caused many people in the universities to lose their jobs because they were involved in programs that provided students specific resources needed to succeed and graduate. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, “DEI involves creating a place where everyone is welcome, supported, and has the resources they need to grow and thrive regardless of identity, origin, or difference in circumstances". So now, UT Austin is scrubbing their online presence for DEI-related terms. These terms are also prohibited in posted course curriculum. The list of banned words is extensive. It includes words like: Ally, Equity, Inclusion, Safe Space, BIPOC, Intersectionality, LGBTQ, Implicit Bias, Gender Identity, Marginalized, Underserved, Microaggression, Social Justice, White Privilege... the list goes on. As a former professor of Women and Gender Studies, I would likely be banned from teaching at UT in their new authoritarian and reality-erasing world. Do we want our future leaders to be so ill-prepared to seek fairness, a shared humanity, and communities of respect and belonging? I don't! Knowing this new dystopia of UT Austin, what student would want to go there? See the list - it's scary https://lnkd.in/eVBJYWeq

This is easily the best article I’ve read in The Chronicle this past year. It’s getting more and more obvious that universities around the country are protecting their status quo rather than the principles of freedom of speech they espouse. The Chicago Principles have been adopted officially by over 100 universities and university systems, and many more university presidents are influenced by them. This article breaks down all the issues with the principles and how they are actually undemocratic. “When students, staff, and faculty are denied a meaningful role in deliberation, protest is our only means of shaping the university community. But protest is essentially disruptive; if it’s not disruptive, it’s not a protest. While not all protests are equally disruptive, all aim to disrupt normal life to at least some extent. A ban on “disruptive protest” is a ban on protest tout court.”

There are reasons to be optimistic! Free speech isn’t dead on college campuses, I argue in my latest piece. Despite frequent complaints about ‘cancel culture’ and the ‘hostile environment’ for conservative students, if we look at the university as a whole it quickly becomes clear that the spirit of debate and disagreement continues. Delighted to publish my first piece in the Columbia Sundial, itself evidence that free speech is alive and well at Columbia  https://lnkd.in/eXYR6aAm

Well, this is an unexpected(?) development in the US Congress's attempt to censor and silence pro-Palestinian, anti-Zionist student protestors on college campuses. The anti-Jewish White supremacist narrative of the "Jew as Christ killer" resurfaces on the national political stage. Which form of White supremacist Whiteness is more dominant? For those keeping score, American White supremacist Whiteness - Israeli White supremacist Whiteness. 1-0. https://lnkd.in/dwYfPiU3 Saving this for my forthcoming book.

Patriotism is often confused with nationalism, but they are very different ideas. In the United States, thoughtful patriotism is based on attachment to the defining ideals of the American Revolution — independence, liberty, equality, natural and civil rights, and a commitment to responsible citizenship — and on understanding and appreciation of the finest lessons our history, literature, art, and political ideas have to teach us. A gentle piety, patriotism ties us to our shared past. It has the power to overcome our differences and make us one people. We explore this theme in today's commentary, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" in The American Crisis. https://lnkd.in/ekK6mu65

He’s devoted his life to providing students with the safety, support and odds for success that he didn’t have. Learn more about Purdue Global professor Josef Vice:

Because a few hundred entitled ignorant spoiled student brats and a bunch of outsiders who infiltrated their ranks made life miserable for thousands of students on the Columbia University campus, attacked Jewish students for being Jewish, and disrupted studies and graduation ceremonies, Columbia University Jewish students now have to be escorted around the campus and I, a graduate student alumnus, can no longer freely visit the campus because I don't have a Columbia University ID. That is supposed to be considered a victory? FYI: When I was a graduate student at the Columbia University School of International Affairs in the late 1970s, after having studied for two years in the Middle East (Israel and Egypt), I engaged in vigorous and sometimes passionate discussions and debates with my fellow students from all backgrounds about the Middle East, the Arab-Israeli conflict, Zionism, the origins of the Palestinian refugees and Palestinian nationalism, the Iranian revolution, Islam, colonialism, etc. We were Americans, Arabs, Iranians, Europeans, Africans, Jews, Muslims, Christians, etc., and we all respected each other, even when we completely disagreed with each other. We all took seriously the concepts of "open discussion" and "free debate." Unfortunately, for at least some people at Columbia University (and particularly certain professors) those concepts appear to have died in the past 40 years. I emphasize "SOME" people because most of the students were not participating in the demonstrations on campus and, according to a recent survey, the Israel-Gaza war ranks last or next to last in priority for university students across the United States. However, the media, from Fox News to MSNBC, have colluded to make sure that the loudest and most obnoxious voices have gotten the most attention, even though they represent a VERY small minority of the total population of university students in the United States. Finally, according to this article, the university has now hired more than 100 additional safety employees and engaged private security to protect the campus perimeter. Consider that a Hamas victory that, completely to be expected, doesn't do one bit of good for Palestinians. On the contrary. https://lnkd.in/eH9V_H-a

I'm so very proud of Get Free's leaders for putting together this critical op-ed linking the fights for a Free Palestine happening on college campuses with the fights against white supremacy here at home. Our generation is clear-eyed about the need to reckon with and repair the legacies of white supremacy here and abroad and, together, we are building the political power to make our will a reality. https://lnkd.in/eGs3Y2Np