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The state (thru taxes) is funding the universities, right? Speaking for myself, if I was funding a university I would do things to encourage intellectual diver
by burrows 4y ago
The state (thru taxes) is funding the universities, right? Speaking for myself, if I was funding a university I would do things to encourage intellectual diversity.
I’m more sympathetic to the more general view that education is not the business of state governments, period.
- mhh__ 4y agoIntellectual diversity imposed upon universities (rather than being some quasi-constitutional thing to sue over) is in my view solely of use to grifters and morons. It sounds like a nice idea but it's so easily manipulated (especially by politicians looking to signal to their base rather than actually fix something even out of naivete)
- throwoutway 4y agoIt’s already happening by left-wing politics. Discussed here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31149311 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31149311
- joshuamorton 4y agoHow is that intellectual diversity? Isn't the common refrain that we should be enforcing intellectual diversity and not other kinds, specifically because the other kinds of diversity don't result in intellectual diversity? Of course, you shouldn't worry yourself over this too much, Canada's not the US, and while that is a government mandated policy there, it would be illegal here.
- joshuamorton 4y ago> if I was funding a university I would do things to encourage intellectual diversity. The first amendment prohibits the state from doing such a thing. They must allow diversity of opinion, they cannot require it (this would be silly, where does it end, Edwards v. Aguillard and Kitzmiller v. Dover seem pretty clear on this).
- burrows 4y agoThe first amendment places limits on the conditions that a state government can attach to university funding?
- joshuamorton 4y agoSee South Dakota v. Dole, which holds (among other things) that federal funding cannot be granted contingently on a requirement that would otherwise violate the constitution or be "coercive". This would almost certainly apply to the states via incorporation. So while a state could choose to not fund universities at all, if it chooses to, it cannot favor certain universities based on a speech-test.
- burrows 4y agoThen you are arguing that these surveys would abridge free speech?
- ROTMetro 4y agoThese surveys are compelled speech. Freedom of speech not only means you are free to speak out, but that you can not be compelled to speak.
- joshuamorton 4y agoIf done with the intent "to encourage intellectual diversity." Yes. At the point where you have intellectuals being required to register their views with the government, you're veering heavily into red scare territory.
- LaundroMat 4y agoEducation should not be a business.
- burrows 4y agoWhat does this mean?