Cross-posted from
Free Exchange on Campus.
Yesterday we reported that the AP filed an early report on the draft of the Pennsylvania Select Committee on Academic Freedom. That story made its way into just a few papers - like every Pennsylvania paper! My favorite is the Philadelphia Inquirer headline which reads:
Academic Bill of Rights Flunks
Statewide rules for public colleges are unnecessary, because bias is rare, a legislative panel has found
So what is the response from David Horowitz? Conspiracy! Conspiracy! Here we have it straight from horse's mouth:
Her [Martha Raffaele] incredible report begins "A statewide policy governing college students' academic freedom is unnecessary because political bias is rare at Pennsylvania's public colleges and universities, a bipartisan legislative panel has found." Even a cursory glance at the recommendations shows that this statement -- and the article that follows -- is utterly false. It is in fact a report of the Democrats' talking points on these proceedings which itself are based on a willful disregard for the facts.
Really? And I thought her story was based on quotes from the draft report circulated at the hearing yesterday such as:
Based on the testimony provided at the four public hearings, the Select Committee came to a general consensus that legislation requiring the adoption of a uniform statewide academic freedom policy, which was referenced by several testifiers, was not necessary. (emphasis in original)
and
The Committee received testimony from each sector of public higher education and determined that academic freedom violations are rare.
In short the Committee charged with determining whether or not remedial legislation was required said no - and when I say the Committee I mean the Republicans and the Democrats. That is because the overwhelming evidence as we have documented in our analysis of the hearings from Pennsylvania students, faculty, and administrators told them that-even if the carpetbaggers like Horowitz, Neal and Balch disagree.
We will wait to see the final report to really dig into the recommendations (which let us keep in mind are recommendations from a committee - not legislation), but for now it looks like Horowitz is going to have retake ABoR Legislation 101.