Thursday, September 1, 2016

How bad is the Free Speech situation at Texas' universities?!?


"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;"
James 1:19

TPPF released a paper yesterday detailing free speech on college campuses in Texas; it isn't good.

The TPPF report examines national data complied by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE).  FIRE is a non-partisan group that tracks these issues nationally.  FIRE divides campuses into three categories: Green Light, Yellow Light, and Red Light.

The most important top-line takeaway is that there were literally zero universities in Texas, public or private, who earned the green light distinction.

As far as red lights go, it was a number of usual suspects along with some surprises.  Obviously, UT Austin made the list (and y'all know where to send the hate mail).  UT-Austin was joined by Rice, Sam Houston State, Texas Women's university, University of Houston, University of North Texas, and UT-Arlington.

Before Aggies get smug, their institution was on the yellow light list.  In other words, they're not much better than the other universities listed above.  And their situation is made worse by the complacency of their alumni.

While all of this is interesting and worth noting, it should not distract from the real path forward for higher ed reform: cracking down on the money.  While issues like free speech and political correctness are obnoxious, they're also easy for universities to defend under the guise of 'academic freedom.'  Nobody can defend university bureaucrats making $250k+ for work of dubious value.

Read the full TPPF report here.

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