Academic Freedom, and Things Just Got Really Weird Around Here

Jul 01 2009

Academic Freedom, and Things Just Got Really Weird Around Here

Last week I posted some musings on among other topics academic freedom and I got quite a response to this topic. The question arises how much am I allowed to talk about and what can my university do to control what I write (last week my university announced that they don’t want me to put their name on this blog because of a complaint they got about a satirical letter I wrote on my blog saying that mental health blogger Phillip Dawdy should be allowed to smoke in his appartment because of his mental health condition). They claim that this blog is for “personal” use it was a violation of their policy to have me use their name or letterhead for personal use. Which raises some interesting questions

First off, is this blog really “personal”? I mean all of the topics relate to my field in some way, which is medicine, health, medications, and psychiatry. Even the “personal” posts about things like my childhood or my emotions relate to my field because, well, I am a psychiatrist for Christ’s sake. What they were worried about was getting sued by somebody because I wrote a sarcastic letter supporting Philip Dawdy’s right to smoke in his own home. Which seems weird that they wouldn’t want their name associated with me.

Which gets me to the next point. If I were to say something like, for example, they treat professors more like corporate employees than academics, would they have the right to take action against me for criticizing my employer? Or is that a violation of academic freedom?

Legally there isn’t a good basis for academic freedom. How safe you are depends on where you live and whether or not you have tenure. In the US there is specific legal concept of academic freedom as apart from the 1st amendment to the US constitution that gives you the right to free speech without being retaliated against. But that protects you from retaliation from the government. So for professors at private universities, they don’t necessarily have legal protection, unlike in Germany, where academic freedom is the law. If you don’t have tenure, they can let you go for any reason. If you do, they have to let you go for cause, meaning you have to do something really bad, I guess. Maybe some of the legal eagles out there could write in and say what that is.

Remember that professor from Colorado who wrote a paper calling the 9/11 victims “little Eichmans”? Turns out they dismissed him for plagiarism and research misconduct, not for what he said.

In general your protection as a professor is all about what is in your contract at your university, and ultimately the culture of your university. So if having divergent views and saying stuff that is out there (we never do that here… Naaa…) is accepted as part of the culture of the university, then you are on good ground. Oh, and also if for-cause tenure is part of your contract.

After word of this blog and the issue of removing the name from my university got around, it piqued the interest of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), and ultimately Inside Higher Education. I would quote the title of the article, but it contains the name of my university, which I am not allowed to name here.

You see how awkward this gets.

And how absurd.

Sarah Goodwin, head of media relations at my university, was quoted as saying “if you read [his blog] over a long period of time, you can see comments he makes that may be of concern.” She also said the ban on use of the university name on blogs was “across the board”.

I mean, give me a break.

As the article points out, Mark Bauerlein, an English professor who blogs for the National Review online, and Drew Westen, who blogs for the Huffington Post (I used to write for them too but would be ashamed to be associated with that swill these days) both prominently display the name of our university on their blogs.

Both Bauerlein and Westen are politically correct and garner positive media information for my university. Both also get mentioned in press releases, from which I have been unceremoniously dropped since writing my book, which was labelled as “anti-pharma” but which as anyone who has actually read it knows is just an honest review of the published literature on the benefits and risk of medications.

If you consider Goodwin’s comments, it tells you that: 1) someone from my university has been reading my blog for a long time, and; 2) they have been considering whether or not the comments should be censured.

Which is more evidence that they are thinking more like a corporation than a university, where the free exchange of ideas, regardless of the perceived value or political correctness of those ideas, is held to the highest standard.

Things are really starting to get weird around here.

I don’t know, maybe I am just an idealist.

Or maybe I should move to Germany.

Tags: AAUP, academic freedom, American Association for University Professors, blogs, Doug Bremner, Drew Westen, for cause, Inside Higher Education, internet, Mark Bauerlein, Sarah Goodwin, tenure, university

Filed in academic freedom | Doug Bremner

25 Comments

By Stephany, July 1, 2009 @ 10:54 am

Well if they are reading, they can read how I feel here. My mother is a retired Professor from a University where she resigned from because of being outspoken and tired of getting heat from the arrogant pompous asses that would call her into their office to tell her to straighten up. BS. She walked, and her career excelled.

Emory, unfortunately does not harbor an ill reputation because of this blog, or any writing that Doug Bremner does, it has a bad reputation because of Charles Nemeroff, the most conflicted researcher in the name of psychiatry, invested by Senator Grassley.

Freedom of speech applies here, and this blog is protected by that, believe it or not.

This action by Emory University just emphasizes the lack of trust Americans have in psychiatry in general, and as a matter of fact, Doug Bremner has impressed me with his candid commentary to the point, he makes psychiatry actually have a reputation for having at least one human being working in it.

Emory University, also cannot force you to remove comments in the comment section of blogs, of where you have no control over what is said, nor do you agree necessarily with the commenter or their remark, and the commentary does not necessarily reflect your opinion or the blog author’s mantra on commentary or blogging.
By Therapy Patient, July 1, 2009 @ 10:59 am

Hopefully you have tenure! In middle and high school, teachers need to keep their personal thoughts to themselves if they are not tenured. I just finished my teaching credential program and hope to teach high school in fall. As far “academic freedom” goes we were told to never tell our students our religion or mention any religion in class. I know one guy who told his students the first day that he is gay and his contract was not renewed. With regards to teaching evolution of the Universe and Solar System and human evolution, we were told to teach it in a way that does not threaten the religious beliefs of our students…which is almost impossible if the student thinks the Earth formed 10,000 years ago just the way it is today. I had a number of religious right students tell me I was advocating atheism by teaching The Big Bang formation of the Universe last year, and I presented it in the most scientific possible way with a disclaimer up front that the students should seek counsel from parent and ministers on conflicting viewpoints. The bottom line is that parents do not want their kids brains “poisoned” so high school and below there’s even less “academic freedom” than in college. In fact now the curriculum is dictated by the state at least in CA.

Vicodin & FDA: I take Vicodin occasionally for severe back pain and it’s always concerned me that there is acetaminophen in the mix, but it worries me even more if these drugs are just pulled from the market since occasionally my pain is so bad I can barely stand to be alive. Will doctors be able to prescribe just the narcotic portion of the drug? Is that available? This concerns me a lot. I have eneough pills right now to see me several months, perhaps even 6 months or longer, but then what?
By Katherine Peil, July 1, 2009 @ 11:34 am

Doug Bremmner is one of the heroes of science- courageous enough to speak his truth whether or not it is “politically correct” as well as to face the consequences of doing so.

I find this highly admirable in a world that suffers from insitutionalized social deception, economic enslavement, and epidemic fear and depression due to limits our own cultural and moral vision.

His book, by the way, is an excellent reference text, and belongs on the shelf of every health consumer to offer balance to the horrendous marketing efforts of the pharmacutical industry forced upon the public.

If leadership wisdom is wanting, I hope that tenure and the US Constiution are sufficient to protect him!
By Stephany, July 1, 2009 @ 12:20 pm

Blogging solidarity

http://bipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com/2009/07/double-standard-emory-university.html
By Susie, July 1, 2009 @ 12:22 pm

“[Name of university]: Where courageous inquiry leads,” isn’t that the official slogan?
I’m not sure what’s courageous about gagging you.
By kimbriel, July 1, 2009 @ 1:21 pm

The whole thing sucks. And since Stephany mentioned the name of your University in her comment, did you violate their “policy”– which, strangely enough, seems to only apply to you?

Can’t believe you’re under fire for a silly letter when Nemeroff gets kudos….
By Dan, July 1, 2009 @ 2:12 pm

See, if you are allowed academic freedom as a University professor, you may be compelled to implement, say, the Socratic method. This, of course, corrupts youth, and you would be sentenced to death.

Yet as an idividual, you have guaranteed to you the freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and freedom of speech. This would not be bowing to the will of your employer, but your rights you have, regardless.

How contradictory an academic institution restricts what their professors share, and yet often, the institutions do not share what should be transparent often- such as industry funding for research. You know, minor things like that.

A link that may be of interest to you:

http://www.aaup.org/aaup
By Stephany, July 1, 2009 @ 2:47 pm

Doug is not responsible for his commenters and they do not necessarily reflect his viewpoint, in my opinion.

Go here:

http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/internet/onlinefreespeech.html
By Stephany, July 1, 2009 @ 2:52 pm

One more:

http://www.cyber-rights.org/censorship/
By kimbriel, July 1, 2009 @ 5:27 pm

Stephany, I know, I was being facetious I was just trying to illustrate the ridulousness of it all…
By harry, July 2, 2009 @ 8:16 am

Emory U. is such a failure right now. As I have read in blogs on Nemeroff and now Dr. Stowe. It seems like the administration has not a clue on how to fix these problems or I wonder if they want to fix them.

Nemeroff and Stowe should both be removed. Emory U. claims to be the Harvard of the South and they are following well in Harvard’s footsteps as they have had major problems up there as well.

Emory is a joke.
By Matthew Holford, July 2, 2009 @ 6:48 pm

To: Doug Bremner, Professor of Psychiatry and Radiology, Emory University,

Dear Doug,

You wrote:
“…Things are really starting to get weird around here…”

Nope. Things have always been weird; you’ve just started noticing *how* weird! However, I would concentrate on what is put in front of you, and don’t speculate on motive, because that way madness lies – they’ll never tell you what the issue *really* is (fear (of something or other), on their part, of course), and that’s a loop that will just go on and on. And so, if you believe that the conduct of your employer, Emory University, impacts you negatively to any significant degree, then you will need to find ways to counter that.

Now, to Goodwin:
“if you read [his blog] over a long period of time, you can see comments he makes that may be of concern.”

This means absolutely nothing, whatsoever. Allow me to paraphrase her comments:
“if you read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, over a long period of time, you can see comments that Eric Carle makes that may be of concern.” You are wrong, Ms Goodwin: I see nothing whatever of concern amidst the comments of Emory University Professor of Psychiatry and Radiology, Doug Bremner’s, comments. It must be a subjective matter, then, must it not? As such, I would be grateful if *you* wouldn’t generalize “…you can see…”), for Emory’s case. Emory is concerned, not me. Would somebody at Emory like to play some more word games?

Anyway, I love the idea that you have a secret fanbase, within your own University, which is Emory, as I believe I’ve mentioned.

Matt
By Tom, July 3, 2009 @ 7:57 am

Dr. Bremner, I would wear Emory’s ban about using their name on your blog as a badge of honor or integrity. Let’s face it: Emory had gotten into some deep do-do with its support of people like Nemeroff and Stowe (and others). Goodwin’s comments are utterly laughable. This same university tried to “spin” its way out of the Nemeroff debacle only to have Grassely threaten them with prosecution! Then, and only then, did they throw Chuckie under the bus. If I were you, I wouldn’t want Emory mentioned on your blog – people might draw the wrong conclusion about you and regard you as a corrupt sociopath masquerading as an academician!
By Anonymous4, July 3, 2009 @ 8:41 pm

Whatever happened to First Amendment rights??

Emory (which used to be my employer) is cowardly and motivated by Looking Good and Not Attracting Controversy. It’s a sick place to work. If you bring in Lots of Money and Prestige, then Emory will ignore all manner of immoral and illegal activities. They don’t change unless forced to change. Nemeroff was able to exploit the system weaknesses for years, and Stowe is his acolyte.

As one of my now-deceased colleagues was fond of saying about his metastatic cancer: “They finally found the primary tumor, and it was Emory!!”
By D Bunker, July 4, 2009 @ 4:38 pm

Doug, there’s only 1 issue in this fiasco.

Does Emory receive Any public Funding? Even 1 Dime of it? Because If Emory Does, then it’s Emory which Should be required to Sit Down & Shut Up.

“Congress shall make NO law, ….. ”

If Congress itself is prohibited from impinging on free speech, then so is Everyone Else at the Public Trough.

Whether Emory likes it or Not, if it’s Govt Funded, then it is a Function of Govt, and therefore Required to back off.
By D Feig, July 4, 2009 @ 10:16 pm

As a alumni of the medical school, college, and school of public health, I will not give a freaking dime to Emory ever again. Every time they call to ask for money, I will specifically ask Sarah Goodwin to cite some specific examples from your blog about concerning behavior.

If getting busted for taking tons of pharm money isn’t concerning, than what is? Evidently only when you get caught by a US Senator.
By S Silverstein, July 5, 2009 @ 6:25 pm

Doug,

If you are tenured, consider moving your entire blog to an Emory server and proudly display the Emory logo.

Part of academic discourse in 2009 includes new media, including blogging, which is simply a form of written communication that happens to be web accessible. Otherwise no difference than if you were writing opinion pieces that you as an academic emailed to, say, a listserv.

A major problem at Emory appears to be the technical backwardness of its leadership. You might remind them it’s not the 1970’s anymore, and TRS-80’s and Wang word processors are long obsolete.
By Cathy, July 7, 2009 @ 2:10 pm

Hi, writing in from Calif, a friend posted your blog on facebook, and I’ve been reading up on this issue. I think you should put the Emory name back on the blog and tell them, I’ll see you in court! Of course, get an attorney ready! They don’t sound like a very ethical university. And now I’m interested in reading your book!
By Marian, July 9, 2009 @ 7:13 pm

For what it’s worth: Nu også på dansk – now also in Danish.
By Doug Bremner, July 9, 2009 @ 8:25 pm

It’s worth a lot! I will re-post my Danish healthcare story from over a year ago next week.
By Joseph Arpaia, July 10, 2009 @ 7:13 am

Wow. I found this from Danny Carlat’s blog. As a psychiatrist its good to know you are out there. I’ll put your blog in my favorites list. Nothing like censorship to increase your readership.