Former Harvard Medical Dean Jeffrey Flier criticizes Lawrence Bobo's op-ed advocating limits on faculty speech, citing threats to academic freedom. Keith E. Whittington responds to Bobo's stance on punishing professors for inciting donors. Bobo's views clash with established academic freedom principles. Flier condemns Harvard's potential sanctioning of faculty for criticizing the university. Despite Harvard's Dean of Arts and Sciences supporting faculty critique freedom, doubts remain due to conflicting views with Dean Bobo's stance. Harvard's FAS Dean addresses Bobo's comments on professional conduct in response to recent controversy.
It’s great that Harvard’s Dean of Arts and Sciences says faculty can’t be punished for critiquing the university. I still doubt those who report to Dean Bobo will risk doing so, since his view — which conflicts with hers and with supposed Harvard policy — is that they should be. https://t.co/aGleWWP0gO
Harvard's Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) just sent out an email (full text below) addressing recent comments made by Lawrence Bobo (Dean of Social Science) in the Harvard Crimson. Bobo argued that "it is outside the bounds of acceptable professional conduct for a…
"That a leader of Harvard would sanction a faculty member—with or without a large platform—for criticizing the actions of other members of the Harvard community or the university itself is outrageous," @jflier writes: https://t.co/mvIe5HMIaq
#POV Keith E. Whittington responds to @Harvard Dean Lawrence Bobo's stance that professors could be punished for public speech that incites alumni or donors to intervene. Bobo's view contradicts established principles of academic freedom. https://t.co/h4xV9Tk5wW https://t.co/k5ppCb5DBQ
#POV Former Dean of @Harvard Medical Jeffrey Flier critiques Lawrence Bobo's recent op-ed advocating limits on faculty speech, saying it threatens academic freedom. Higher ed needs viewpoint diversity; faculty should express their views freely. https://t.co/pUjFQrpYg5 https://t.co/V6QAjGnU7Q