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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

#91

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. Absolute though it crosses over with social platforms alot. There is currently an injunction against the Biden administration to stop them from instructing social platform on what to censor.

What enforcement mechanism does the government use in this plan?

The answer is none. That’s why it’s not government censorship. It’s a completely voluntary. There’s not even a stick nor a treat involved.

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

#92
post #44
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is literally the definition of a first amendment issue, in my eyes. Should the president be able to ban anyone who works for any company that has any government contracts from making any critical statements about his administration? This isn’t some intern in the office of the politician she (seemingly lightly) criticized, this is a tenured professor. Besides, IMO tenured professors are the very front line of fre…

> * this is a tenured professor.* I don't think she's tenured — her TAMU Web page says she's a clinical assistant professor. [0] [0] https://health.tamu.edu/experts/joy-alonzo.html

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

#93
post #83
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Texas's attorney general has had been both state, and federally indicted for fraud for the past 8 years, and has successfully stalled the case, on the basis[1] that as long as he's a Republican politician, he can't get a fair trial. He's only been impeached for it this year . There is no oversight to be had in that kind of single-party state. If you're wondering about what the end game of that sort of thing looks lik…

How do tech workers in Texas cities like Austin feel about being under that?

Well, tech workers here don’t make up a significant voting block in state-wide races. Not to mention we mostly got the conservative tech bros from NYC and Cali anyway, so they’re not really bothered.

That said, Williamson County flipped blue last election which was surprising. A lot of the wealthier, slightly older suburban tech/business Austin crowd lives there.

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

#94
post #83
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Texas's attorney general has had been both state, and federally indicted for fraud for the past 8 years, and has successfully stalled the case, on the basis[1] that as long as he's a Republican politician, he can't get a fair trial. He's only been impeached for it this year . There is no oversight to be had in that kind of single-party state. If you're wondering about what the end game of that sort of thing looks lik…

How do tech workers in Texas cities like Austin feel about being under that?

Like cities with dense populations should operate as city-states and that the current federal model is broken.

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

#95
post #26

Crackdowns on free speech are increasing worldwide. Afghanistan, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Florida, Texas... Israel just reached the using fire hoses on protestors level.[1] [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/25/world/middleeast/israel-j...

[flagged]

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

#96

> Neither UTMB nor Texas A&M would confirm what Alonzo said that prompted such a reaction, and UTMB students interviewed by the Tribune recalled a vague reference to Patrick’s office but nothing specific. Without knowing what was allegedly said, this is difficult to judge, although I would certainly be inclined to side with the professor given what's been reported so far. Professors should be given wide latitude to d…

All in all, it seems like this was a situation where the process worked.

- She said some stuff as a visiting speaker she probably shouldn't have in that context, or at least was taken wrong by some folks in the audience.

- Attendees complained

- She was formally censured by the hosting university that knew what the comments were

- Due to the censure, her employer investigated

- She was cleared, life went on

- Newspapers decided it was a great chance to twist events into an evil right-wing speech suppression story.

News at 11.

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

#97

Not the way I would have preferred to see my Alma mater on HN, but not exactly shocked, either.

Feeling slightly better than all the Northwestern alumni, but this is still pretty shameful.

Go Cats!

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

#98

It's worth knowing more details than the headline here: 1. Professor Joy Alonzo, who's an expert in Opiod harm-reduction gave a talk where according to all accounts, she mildly critiqued the Lt. Governor and state's preferences for punitive approaches for drug control and that they are considered Federal non-reporters on Opioid stats since they don't collect the data required. 2. Dawn Buckingham, the TX Land Commissi…

What did she say?

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

#99
I wonder if the criticism is along the lines of the attitude around the US-Mexico border is crackdown on the distribution and availability of the narcan (naxalone). https://abc13.com/texas-am-suspends-professor-joy-alonzo-sus...

I heard that in Mexico right wing politicians are blocking the import of naxalone with the attitude that people that OD on the streets should not be helped.

Just wondering...

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

#100
post #26

Crackdowns on free speech are increasing worldwide. Afghanistan, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Florida, Texas... Israel just reached the using fire hoses on protestors level.[1] [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/25/world/middleeast/israel-j...

[flagged]
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