Retired Indiana University Faculty Members Denied Preliminary Injunction, Barred from Bloomington Faculty Council Participation for Now

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Retired faculty members at Indiana University will not be allowed to serve as representatives on the Bloomington Faculty Council, at least for the time being. A recent ruling by a Monroe County judge has temporarily halted their ability to participate in faculty governance. On Sunday, Judge Emily Salzmann denied a motion for a preliminary injunction filed by three retired professors: Steven Sherman, Alex Tanford, and Russell Skiba. The plaintiffs had launched a lawsuit against the university’s Board of Trustees in August following a policy change that prohibits retired faculty from engaging in … Read more

Federal Judge Upholds Controversial Alabama Law, Students and Faculty Decry Potential Erosion of Academic Freedom

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A federal judge has dismissed attempts by Alabama college faculty and students to block a state law prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, ruling that the plaintiffs are unlikely to succeed in their challenge. The legislation, known as Senate Bill 129, has drawn criticism for allegedly censoring academic freedom. It prohibits the teaching of what proponents call divisive concepts, prompting concerns among educators and students at institutions such as the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The plaintiffs argued that the law infringes upon their First … Read more

Harvard Law Faculty Condemn Trump’s Retaliatory Actions Against Lawyers, Citing Threats to Freedom of Speech and Legal Norms

Cambridge, MA – In an unprecedented move, Harvard Law School professors have publicly challenged actions taken by the Trump administration, accusing it of retaliating against law firms and their attorneys for representing oppositional clients and interests. This accusation came in a strongly worded letter penned over the weekend, in which a significant majority of the faculty – 82 out of 118 active professors – have put their signatures, signaling deep concerns within the academic community. The professors’ letter details alarming threats allegedly made by the Trump administration against individual lawyers and leading law firms, threatening … Read more

Faculty Vote on No-Confidence after University President Faces Multi-Million Dollar Judgment for Retaliation

Faculty and coaching staff at three university campuses in Pennsylvania initiated a pivotal vote on Tuesday, expressing a lack of confidence in Dr. Bashar Hanna, the president of Commonwealth University. This vote, which affects the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses, underscores the intense scrutiny following a substantial legal judgment last summer. In a nearly $4 million decision, a federal jury concluded that Hanna had wrongfully terminated a dean, Dr. Jeffrey Krug, who had reported sexual harassment and financial misconduct allegations against Hanna. The jury’s verdict has culminated in a broader examination of Hanna’s leadership … Read more