Wisconsin and Academic Freedom

Just a quick note of thanks to Chancellor Biddy Martin and the University of Wisconsin. The university has responded well to the Freedom of Information Act request for the e-mails of Professor Cronon. Which, by law, it had to do. It appears to have complied with the request and yet maintained both its dignity and integrity. The extreme political age into which we are being plunged by the relentless anti-intellectual, and plainly mean-spirited nature of the modern day Republican Party in places like Wisconsin, demands that we all seek to preserve our standards. They won’t. So we will. The shadow of witch hunts, personal attacks, and open lying has fallen across our discourse. That way lies chaos and social strife. So: well done U. of Wisconsin, for showing how to resist.