Hunter
11/13/24
University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson, Provost Kevin Kregel and Faculty Senate President Caroline Sheerin issued a letter to campus last week in the wake of the national election and comments being made by faculty and staff on social media and in the classroom.
The Gazette reports the letter stressed “the advancement and dissemination of knowledge is the core function of public higher education” — but that academic freedom comes with responsibilities as outlined in UI and Board of Regents policies.
The letter quoted a section of Board policy that supports all faculty members’ freedom to discuss matters relating to their instructional and scholarly activities, even if some may disagree or even disapprove of their statements.
However, faculty were cautioned against introducing controversial matters that have no relation to their classes. That policy also applies to research and other creative endeavors across campus.
The topic came into light after a UI Health Care fellow responded to a post on X about the election calling him a loser, saying the individual should prepare for their child getting killed in a school shooting.
State Representative Carter Nordman called on President Wilson to terminate Mayank Sharma from his post on the UI Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Team.
The Gazette reports the university hasn’t responded to questions about Sharma’s status with the program, although he no longer is named among a list of program fellows on the university website.
Other posts from faculty commented on the election. A rhetoric class instructor posted a slide that said, “We elected a rapist, convicted criminal, racist, and anti-environmentalist to presidential office. Now what?”
Another post from an assistant professor in Gender, Women’s and Sexuality reportedly posted on X, “He bet on misogyny and racism to win. And he was right.” Another post said, “The only thing America hates more than a rapist is a woman.”
While the Board of Regents deems faculty and staff free from institutional censorship or discipline when they speak or write as citizens, they urge posters to make every effort to indicate they are not speaking for the University of Iowa.