Intermarkets' Privacy Policy
Support


Donate to Ace of Spades HQ!


Contact
Ace:
aceofspadeshq at gee mail.com
Buck:
buck.throckmorton at protonmail.com
CBD:
cbd at cutjibnewsletter.com
Doof:
doof2112 at proton.me
joe mannix:
mannix2024 at proton.me
MisHum:
petmorons at gee mail.com
J.J. Sefton:
sefton at cutjibnewsletter.com


Recent Entries
Absent Friends
Captain Whitebread 2026
Jon Ekdahl 2026
Jay Guevara 2025
Jim Sunk New Dawn 2025
Jewells45 2025
Bandersnatch 2024
GnuBreed 2024
Captain Hate 2023
moon_over_vermont 2023
westminsterdogshow 2023
Ann Wilson(Empire1) 2022
Dave In Texas 2022
Jesse in D.C. 2022
OregonMuse 2022
redc1c4 2021
Tami 2021
Chavez the Hugo 2020
Ibguy 2020
Rickl 2019
Joffen 2014
AoSHQ Writers Group
A site for members of the Horde to post their stories seeking beta readers, editing help, brainstorming, and story ideas. Also to share links to potential publishing outlets, writing help sites, and videos posting tips to get published. Contact OrangeEnt for info:
maildrop62 at proton dot me
Cutting The Cord And Email Security
Moron Meet-Ups





















« Blacklight Power, Again | Main | Three Die Playing Catch With Hand Grenade »
November 07, 2005

Academic McCarthyism

Professor "Rats Out" Conservative PhD Candidate; Finds The Candidate's Expression of Views To Be "Contrary To the Spirit Of Free Inquiry," Which Means, It Seems, Absolutely Kow-Towing to the Leftist/Marxist Academic Party Line

Pretty disgraceful:

For those of you who haven’t been following the story as it makes its way around the blogosphere, Info-Theory’s Paul Deignan, a PhD student, was the victim of a “retaliatory” attack by a professor who didn’t appreciate Paul’s insinuating himself into a blog thread on the leftwing academic blog, Bitch PhD [this being a leftwing site, the administrator has removed the exchange in question; Paul saved it here]. Evidently, Paul’s attempt to debate civilly was regarded as beyond the pale. Notes the good professor in a comment on Paul’s blog, “Your behavior is highly unprofessional. If the shoe was on the other foot—if I were disruptive and unprofessional on a right wing site, I’d expect to be called on it. But I don’t troll conservative academic sites. It would be unprofessional to disrupt their discussions and contrary to the spirit of free enquiry—liberal values you seem to be unfamiliar with” [my emphasis].

In the world of the academy (in the humanities, in particular), anything that doesn’t echo established leftist orthodoxies is considered an “attack”—and not surprisingly, this professor took Paul’s criticisms as “contrary to the spirit of free enquiry” (which, sadly, has been twisted to mean “freedom from criticism"). To remedy this, the professor took it upon himself to call Paul’s faculty dissertation advisor (at a different school) to let him know—as a professional courtesy, you see—of Paul’s alleged poor form (which a review of the evidence will show consisted of nothing more than his arguing his positions quite civilly). This, after calling Paul both “a lunatic” and “homely” in an email.

Such is an absolutely unconscionable misuse of power. Further, it as an intentional effort to ruin Paul’s academic career. And because it was done explicitly to punish Paul for his social and political views on the legality of abortion (all of this took place in the context of a debate over Alito’s nomination), it is intellectual McCarthyism at its most baldfaced and cowardly.

"Lunatic." "Homely." I see the sort of civility and airy intellectual give-and-take this Guardian Against the Corruption of Innocent Liberal Minds is cultivating.

Naked Testicle Spiderman has the douchebag's email address, in case you want to say hello. And contact information for his boss, too, in case you'd like to weigh in.

Keep the stuff to the boss reasonable and profanity free.


posted by Ace at 03:23 PM
Comments



Thanks, Ace.

And to your commenters, if you have second, please contact professor Wally Hettle's Dept Chair to let him know that you find such behavior reprehensible.

The University of Northern Iowa history dept. chair is Dr. Robert Martin. He can be reached here: Robert.Martin@uni.edu.

Posted by: Jeff G on November 7, 2005 03:37 PM

So, we shouldn't bombard him with photos of The Naked Testicle Spideyman?

Posted by: on November 7, 2005 03:43 PM

It's interesting that, although many posters called Paul a troll, they were the ones delivering the profanity and the cheap shots, just like the trolls on this and many other right wing sites.

Paul was perfectly civil. He didn't deserve to be banned, let alone attacked by Hettle.

Also, did you notice the webmaster's emotional/intellectual insecurity when she characterized Paul as 'determined to show how much smarter he is than the lady professor'? This woman clearly has some issues.

Posted by: fasterplease on November 7, 2005 04:16 PM

But I don’t troll conservative academic sites.

cause he can't find any?

Posted by: Dave in Texas on November 7, 2005 04:38 PM

Why punish this guy any further? He already has to get up & go to work at the "University" of Northern Iowa. That's "NORTHERN" Iowa, not Iowa State or Iowa. Sure, they put Bryce Paup & Kurt Warner in the NFL, but I don't think any graduates of the UNI history department have been showing up on the weekend talking head shows.

Posted by: Russ from Winterset on November 7, 2005 06:25 PM

For those toiling in the graduate student salt mines, check out Iowahawk's comment on the protein wisdom thread.

Funny, and scary, cuz it's true.

Posted by: Knemon on November 7, 2005 06:29 PM

So, Ace, about tomorrow -- is it going to be live or Memorex?

Posted by: on November 7, 2005 06:30 PM

Nobody has noted that Paul misused "your"/"you're" on his first post. PhD candidate? Boy, how the bar has been lowered.

Yeah, yeah, I know, just a comment on a Web site. Whatever.

Posted by: rho on November 7, 2005 07:06 PM

After I read the "non-harrassment" policy of my grad school I decided to stop blogging all together. If I use the acronym "BC" instead of "BCE" in a paper, I can be punished for offending the sensibilities of non-Christians. It is absolutely ridiculous. If I didn't have to get the degree to keep my job I would drop it in a New York minute.

Posted by: Dacotti on November 7, 2005 07:18 PM

Professor Wally is an interesting character. I like the book he wrote about how the Civil War-era Democrats were really Republicans in disguise.

Posted by: ArrMatey on November 7, 2005 08:13 PM

Dacotti, hang in there. (That's what I keep telling myself, anyway). He who laughs last ...

Posted by: Knemon on November 7, 2005 09:38 PM

Freedom of expression is limited by what is offensive to those in power, and those in power in academia are left-wing extremists at best, somewhere left of communism at worst (you know, like Pol Pot and Uncle Joe). Academic freedom and academic freedom of expression have nothing to do with being able to express a contrarian view.

Even if the "contrarian view" is expressed as an example, the person expressing such a view is roundly criticized. Just ask the poor sucker from "Hawved" who had the gall to use a theoretical example of (gasp) men being better than women (double gasp) in certain disciplines! Not that he said they were, but that he said WHAT IF THEY ARE? Such heresy cannot and will not be tolerated by absolute dictatorships.

And in answer to rho, yes, academic standards have been lowered. That's what happens when grades are thrown out or rendered meaningless, and when entry requirements are lowered to allow "diversity".

Posted by: Carlos on November 7, 2005 09:50 PM

Russ-

Sure, they put Bryce Paup & Kurt Warner in the NFL, but I don't think any graduates of the UNI history department have been showing up on the weekend talking head shows.

Well, Warner did learn enough to stock shelves at the grocery store...

Posted by: scott on November 8, 2005 07:34 AM
Post a comment
Name:


Email Address:


URL:


Comments:


Remember info?








Now Available!
The Deplorable Gourmet
A Horde-sourced Cookbook
[All profits go to charity]
Top Headlines
CJN podcast 1400 copy.jpg
Podcast: Vote Early...Vote Often! Oil exports are returning to normal, Trump relaxes CAFE standards, ChiComs fund AI backlash, the descendants of our business titans are anti-American, Boston is nuts, and more!
Trump 'Surprised' UK Freed Airbase Plot Suspects
Why? They are honored guests of the UK? [CBD]
CJN podcast 1400 copy.jpg
Podcast: CBD is solo and just checking in! Trump's UN speech is a success, the Last Ditch Bar in Western MA keeps their lunacy in the spotlight, and the White House plays hardball with the media and the judiciary...as it should!
If you care, the new end credit scenes added to the Avengers: Endgame re-release have leaked. Watch 'em fast before they're deleted.
This post has a written summary of the scenes.
LOL:
Somebody should write a book about the greatest drinking stories of O'Toole, Burton, Harris, and Caine. One of my faves was Richard Harris went on a six week bender in the South of France without telling wifey. Upon return, she's screaming, and he simply replied "why didn't you pay the ransom"?

Posted by: bill in arkansas
Support a Moron running in deep blue CT to unseat a leftist hack!
Darrell Harris For CT State Representative.
[CBD]
CJN podcast 1400 copy.jpg
Podcast: Did the SCOTUS leftists slow-walk the USPS decision, Newsom's mendacious pledge not to run if Harris does, Canada's return to the trade negotiations, AI fear-mongering, The Goo Goo Dolls are adults, and more!
Forgotten 80s Mystery Click, Guitar Hero Edition
Oh here it comes
That funny feeling again winding me up inside Every time we touch
Hey I don't know
Oh, tell me where to begin cause I never ever
Felt so much

Okay, that was pretty easy. Here's one that's 3% harder. But still easy.
Ooh, can you feel the static?
So many contacts being made
We've got up-front fanatics
Tearing down the barricade
To reach the stage
Can you feel the rage?
CJN podcast 1400 copy.jpg
Podcast: Is the Iran situation reaching a steady state? The UK sides with the enemies of the West, Vance the Squish? France and Germany and their coming elections, Canada trade war is one-sided, and Clancy is evil incarnate!
Dear RNC; Go f*ck yourselves. I have gotten 56 texts in the last two weeks...all offensive and sneaky and all begging for money. At this point I would rather donate to AOC. [CBD]
BIG NEWS UPDATE NOT FIRED

From her lawyer

"The irresponsible reports that have been published stating that Maria Bartiromo was fired or is no longer an employee of Fox are absolutely and unequivocally false," Freedman said Friday. "Make no mistake, we have the receipts and witnesses and they will come out whether through the courthouse or otherwise."

He added: "Those reporting her firing or the incredulous facts supporting that fiction have exhibited a complete and utter reckless disregard for the truth."

from anon2020
So what, she quit?
Megyn Kelly (accursed be her name) used to say all the time that Fox has a top female PR person who is a nasty pitbull and leaks nasty claims about anyone Fox is at war with, including those who have left the network. So I guess maybe she technically resigned? I don't know.
NEW: @FoxNews has obtained Lindsay Clancy defense attorney Kevin Reddington's appeal filing to the MA Supreme Court, which includes Reddington accusing the lone holdout juror of being "biased" against those with "debilitating mental illness", which he says is a protected category.

Thanks to Mark1971
Recent Comments
Don Black: ">Hey, anyone here download the WINDOWS 26H2 yet? ..."

Community Notes: "[i]Hey, anyone here download the WINDOWS 26H2 yet? ..."

Youth: " This is the year of the YOUTH vote! Posted by: ..."

Blonde Morticia: " *Plants fig* Transinsanity costs Democrat-Com ..."

ballistic: "Yeah, some megalomaniacal fuckstain acting under t ..."

Community Notes: "[i]Its affordability in general - a stand in for e ..."

it puts the lotion in the basket: "Honestly, what do lose if someone like this asshol ..."

Bertram Cabot, Jr.: "This is the year of the YOUTH vote! ..."

October : "Where are the dirty tricks? The forged documents, ..."

Paul : "When Biden had a higher grp Ace said it was low ..."

Orson: "Hey, anyone here download the WINDOWS 26H2 yet? ..."

Whispering Campaign : " The elections will be held soon. Where are the d ..."

Bloggers in Arms
Some Humorous Asides
Archives