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Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Patrick in lecture

texastribune.org

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Re: Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Patrick in lecture

#11

Post by Ylpertnodi »

vxNsr wrote: post #8
Regnore wrote: post #5

What are the laws around the government punishing government employees for criticizing the government? I'm not an expert but it doesn't really seem like a first amendment issue although I think most would agree that the government shouldn't be punishing its own employees for conduct like this.

[flagged]

>It’s pretty clear from the article what the political leanings of the author are, so it almost comes off as hypocritical and tone deaf to start banging on the first amendment drum on this issue.

Could you clarify?

Re: Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Patrick in lecture

#12

Post by patmorgan23 »

Regnore wrote: post #5

What are the laws around the government punishing government employees for criticizing the government? I'm not an expert but it doesn't really seem like a first amendment issue although I think most would agree that the government shouldn't be punishing its own employees for conduct like this.

IIRC public universities are state actors and thus have to follow certain frost amendment restrictions.

Professors at state universities are state employees and you can't fire a state employee for criticizing an elected official.

Re: Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Patrick in lecture

#13

Post by aaomidi »

vxNsr wrote: post #8
Regnore wrote: post #5

What are the laws around the government punishing government employees for criticizing the government? I'm not an expert but it doesn't really seem like a first amendment issue although I think most would agree that the government shouldn't be punishing its own employees for conduct like this.

[flagged]

The government isn’t “any employer” and has a lot more strict restrictions.

Re: Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Patrick in lecture

#14

Post by pityJuke »

As Nilay Patel from the Verge put it [1]

>Your regular reminder that the biggest threat to free speech is the government.

> Complaining about social platforms moderating content according to their whims is just how politicians distract you from how fast they’ve all gotten sick of the First Amendment. This story is outrageous — no one will even say what this professor allegedly said that was so offensive!

[1]: https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/25/23806946/your-regular-rem...

Re: Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Patrick in lecture

#15

Post by NovemberWhiskey »

vxNsr wrote: post #8
Regnore wrote: post #5

What are the laws around the government punishing government employees for criticizing the government? I'm not an expert but it doesn't really seem like a first amendment issue although I think most would agree that the government shouldn't be punishing its own employees for conduct like this.

[flagged]

Uh no.

If you're a professor at a state school, and part of your job involves research into the effectiveness of drug policies in harm prevention, then you're not only allowed to make derogatory comments about your employer but compelled to do so if that is where your research takes you.

This is not about party-political point scoring: lives are literally at stake, never mind fundamental academic freedoms.

Re: Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Patrick in lecture

#16

Post by freejazz »

vxNsr wrote: post #8
Regnore wrote: post #5

What are the laws around the government punishing government employees for criticizing the government? I'm not an expert but it doesn't really seem like a first amendment issue although I think most would agree that the government shouldn't be punishing its own employees for conduct like this.

[flagged]

>Yea it’s strange to be framing this as a first amendment issue.

How so? this is like a textbook example of a first amendment issue from con law in a 1L curriculum

Re: Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Patrick in lecture

#18

Post by vxNsr »

pityJuke wrote: post #14

As Nilay Patel from the Verge put it [1] >Your regular reminder that the biggest threat to free speech is the government. > Complaining about social platforms moderating content according to their whims is just how politicians distract you from how fast they’ve all gotten sick of the First Amendment. This story is outrageous — no one will even say what this professor allegedly said that was so offensive! [1]: https:/…

Exactly which is why it’s a huge problem when the tech companies act in lock step with government officials.

Re: Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Patrick in lecture

#19

Post by colechristensen »

pityJuke wrote: post #14

As Nilay Patel from the Verge put it [1] >Your regular reminder that the biggest threat to free speech is the government. > Complaining about social platforms moderating content according to their whims is just how politicians distract you from how fast they’ve all gotten sick of the First Amendment. This story is outrageous — no one will even say what this professor allegedly said that was so offensive! [1]: https:/…

>Your regular reminder that the biggest threat to free speech is the government.

The only thing the first amendment protects you from is the government.

Re: Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Patrick in lecture

#20

Post by HWR_14 »

Regnore wrote: post #5

What are the laws around the government punishing government employees for criticizing the government? I'm not an expert but it doesn't really seem like a first amendment issue although I think most would agree that the government shouldn't be punishing its own employees for conduct like this.

It was the government school punishing a university professor for giving a guest lecture at another school. Both university professors (via tenure) and government employees (via the first amendment) deserve special protection from their employers to speak publicly.
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