Useful point. In economise, the current equilibrium is result of particular choices. W/out mass plea bargaining, there’d necessarily be differences, but those needn’t & probably wouldn’t include chaos, because microeconomics, ie incentives would change, and behavior as a result

I'm disappointed & frustrated with the statement by Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (who blocked me despite having never interacted with them). In it, they reaffirm the right of armed resistance, an explicit endorsement of Hamas and October 7 & the “all means

The chilling show of force at the University of Texas at Austin is a disproportionate response to an apparently peaceful protest. Sending in a phalanx of law enforcement threatens protected speech where it should be at its most free: a public university like UT Austin.

The shocking scenes out of Texas tonight of law enforcement physically assaulting journalists are un-American and unconstitutional.

The First Amendment protects our free press.

Journalists play an invaluable and constitutionally protected role in documenting events, giving

Incredibly disturbing footage out of Texas where authorities appear to be barring any pro-Palestinian protest at all in open outdoor areas of campus — not just disruptive ones. This appears to be a blatant violation not just of the First Amendment but S.B. 18 which requires these

Oh my.

General reminder that force used to disperse peaceful protesters engaging in civil disobediance should be proportional and reasonable.

In panic mode, high-profile universities are making poor decisions that aggravate the very tensions they are trying to defuse. Has the USC administration made its commencement safer? Probably not. By canceling speech, it has raised the chances of disruptive protests. (Clip: WSJ)

Something I don’t like about the phrase “thinking like an economist” is that it is possible that typically economists don’t think well about certain questions.

There ought to be standards for good thinking that don’t depend on your discipline.

I think the problem with the methods answer is that methods change and methods should be chosen to be appropriate to questions

Nice article on free speech and antidiscrimination law on campus

ht Brian Leiter https://universeodon.com/@BrianLeiter

verdict.justia.com/2024/04/22/fed…

Just been published this morning! For buying or freely downloading see the url in the comment.

Agree with this: universities should not censor or discipline speech but there should be no tolerance for violence or use of physical force.

University students have every right to protest what they find undesirable, harmful, or unjust. Whether you agree is immaterial. If you don’t like their message, write a counter-message or organize a counter-protest. What’s not allowed is violence in any form or incitement to

I support university students' right to free speech, freedom of expression & peaceful assembly. I detest and reject expressions of or calls for violence, hate, ignorance, or demonization of any type/kind in the name of supporting Gaza & the Palestinian people. You cannot protest

No I don’t agree with that

Shutting down a business school is not good in itself

It is important that people be able to protest and express their views but this kind of attitude is mindless and does nothing but alienate people

STATEMENT: FIRE is monitoring outbreaks of violence and arrests on campuses nationwide. Sadly, we must again restate a bedrock principle: Violence is never acceptable.

Colleges and universities must ensure the swift arrest of anyone engaging in violence on campus, whether

I was also disturbed in watching President Shafik’s testimony about how much was conceded with respect to disciplining faculty and students for exercising what should be their free speech.

Here's the letter that Knight First Amendment Institute just sent to President Shafik about free speech at Columbia (with corrected URL) knightcolumbia.org/blog/knight-in…

Forcibly pushing people out of a campus space isn’t speech and this sort of behavior should not be tolerated

A new remembrance of Parsons by philosopher Gila Sher has been added, and it is splendid!