John K. Wilson

Jesse Jackson and “Western Culture” at Stanford with John K. Wilson Podcast Episode · American Campus Podcast · March 11 · 23m

I discussed my recent column about the myth of Jesse Jackson chanting at Stanford with @llassabe.bsky.social on her American Campus Podcast:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/j...

The Origins of Institutional Neutrality — Inquisitive The University of Wisconsin’s 1894 declaration on academic freedom is just as relevant today as it was when it was issued 131 years ago

My new essay for Inquisitive Magazine @heterodoxacademy.bsky.social looks at institutional neutrality, academic freedom, and the 1894 University of Wisconsin statement.
inquisitivemag.org/articles/bac...

Jesse Jackson and the Myth of the Stanford Chant The story about Jackson and the words he never chanted reveal how easy it is to repeat a lie so often that everyone becomes convinced that it was always true.

My new column for @insidehighered.com exposes how conservatives lied about the late Rev. Jesse Jackson and his visit to Stanford for the past 39 years.
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

My essay for @rcscience.bsky.social, criticizing the National Association of Scholars' attacks on science and calls to require faculty to disclose their test scores, was posted today.
www.realclearscience.com/articles/202...

The Hard Truth About FIRE’s Political Mistake The false narrative that FIRE spread—that only “the on-campus left” endangered free speech within higher education—became the justification for external repression.

My new column for @insidehighered.com looks at FIRE @thefireorg.bsky.social and @greglukianoff.skystack.xyz, and the problem of embracing politicians to reform higher education. www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

In Defense of Larry Summers and His Critics Even though Larry Summers is a scumbag, he’s still entitled to academic freedom protections.

My latest column for @insidehighered.com is a defense of @larrysummers.bsky.social and his critics. www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

In Defense of Berkeley Instructor Peyrin Kao UC Berkeley administrators have violated Kao’s academic freedom and the First Amendment in their shameful punishment of him for his free speech.

My new column for @insidehighered.com criticizes @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social for wrongly suspending an instructor for alleged political advocacy. www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

Northwestern’s Complicity With the Trump Regime We need shadow universities to preserve academic values and academic freedom at a time when they are under attack by government officials and campus administrators.

My latest column for @insidehighered.com critiques Northwestern's terrible deal with the Trump regime. www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

Partial Victory for Freedom of the Press at Indiana U While we need to celebrate the win, we also need to recognize how incomplete and temporary it was.

My latest @insidehighered.com column looks at how @splc.org, @thefireorg.bsky.social, @aaup.org and student journalists fought for a free press at Indiana University www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

Scopes and the creationists with John K. Wilson - American Campus Podcast From a student of Saul Bellow and Barack Obama.References and suggested readings:John K Wilson. August 2025. “100 Years Ago, the Scopes Monkey Trial Discovered Academic Freedom.” Chronicle of Higher E...

My interview about the Scopes trial with @llassabe.bsky.social for her excellent American Campus podcast is now available:
americancampuspodcast.buzzsprout.com/2396665/epis...

“The Myth of Political Correctness,” 30 Years Later Looking back, I think my first book’s claims have been proven largely correct over the past three decades.

My column today for @insidehighered.com looks back at my first book, The Myth of Political Correctness, which was published 30 years ago today. www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

The Compact to Destroy Academic Freedom The fight against Trump’s totalitarian compact isn’t just a fight for the autonomy and freedom and preservation of American universities.

My column today for @insidehighered.com about the Compact: www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

Banned Books Week in the Time of Repression We need to build an alliance that crosses all boundaries and realize that unless we all stand together to defend everyone against censorship, we will all be vulnerable.

My @insidehighered.com column today looks at Banned Books Week (go to www.chicagobannedbooks.org to see Chicago-area events this week).
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

The Absurd War on Land Acknowledgements You don’t have to like them, but prohibiting them is a violation of academic freedom.

My essay on Ohio State's ban on land acknowledgements appeared today in the Chronicle of Higher Education www.chronicle.com/article/the-...

Academic Freedom Under Fire: Constitution Day 2025 Panel on Higher Education & Free Speech YouTube video by ProjectCensored

The Constitution Day event on academic freedom in partnership with @projectcensored.bsky.social that I moderated featuring @tomginsburg.bsky.social and @sarahemclaugh.bsky.social is now available online.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ityg...

The Victory for Harvard Is a Victory for Democracy A settlement by Harvard now would be not only cowardly but crazy.

My new column for @insidehighered.com on the legal victory for @harvard.edu
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

Censorship at Northwestern Worse After Dreger’s Resignation Looking back at the Dreger resignation a decade ago, it’s hard to feel optimistic, because censorship on campus is even worse today.

My latest column for @insidehighered.com examines free expression at Northwestern University and @medillschool.bsky.social, 10 years after Alice Dreger's resignation.

www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

In Defense of Jonathan Brown Georgetown suspended a professor for a statement milder than one made by the president of the United States on social media. It should immediately end the practice of arbitrary suspensions without due...

My new column at Inside Higher Ed criticizes Georgetown University for suspending professor Jonathan Brown.
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

Why Universities Must Not Capitulate to the Trump Regime Colleges that settle with the Trump administration have no guarantee of safety from further retaliation.

My latest column for @insidehighered.com on the capitulations by Brown and Columbia
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

The Dangers of the Manhattan Statement In his inaugural column, John K. Wilson argues that a conservative groups ‘new contract’ for higher ed risks greater government intrusion into the sector.

The first essay of my new column for @insidehighered.com, called “Debatable Ideas,” features a critique of the Manhattan Statement.
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

Opinion | 100 Years Ago, the Scopes Monkey Trial Discovered Academic Freedom But today, the right to teach the truth remains under threat.

My essay today for the @chronicle.com on the centennial of the Scopes trial and what it means today: www.chronicle.com/article/100-...

What Trump’s War on Universities Means for International Students and Scholars The administration’s attack on Harvard is part of an assault unprecedented in the history of American higher education

My article today for @newlinesmag.bsky.social on the war on international students: newlinesmag.com/argument/wha...

Demands of Harvard Are Blueprint for Repression (opinion) Harvard is rightly fighting back against the Trump administration’s demands, which pose a threat to every college in America, John K. Wilson writes.

My op-ed for @insidehighered.com today about the Trump administration's letter to Harvard demanding repression:
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...

In defense of FIRE (opinion) John K. Wilson argues that a recent defense of the AAUP goes too far in denouncing the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

My defense of @thefireorg.bsky.social against its AAUP critics: insidehighered.com/opinion/view...
Coming soon, my defense of the AAUP against the attacks by FIRE and
@glukianoff.bsky.social
And also read my new essay in HxA's magazine inquisitive: inquisitivemag.org/articles/bac...