Does academic freedom really only mean as much freedom as your most sensitive students can stand, and the careers of scholars in the hands of students who are inexperienced in the subject matter, new to academic life, and, often, still in the throes of adolescence. - The Atlantic
Standing up for a religious minority’s right to exist, believe, and worship freely does not mean leaving all your other values at the door, and allowing the most vocal and conservative members of that minority to demand censorship or compliance with their views. - Slate
Leeds 2023 is the “unofficial” city of culture. The city’s official bid to be European capital of culture began about a decade ago but was dashed in 2017 when the European Commission told Leeds it could no longer be considered due to Brexit. - The Guardian
In a tweet, Christopher Rufo said the group will seek to a create a new core curriculum, “abolish ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ and replace it with ‘equality, merit, and colorblindness,’” hire faculty “with expertise in constitutionalism, free enterprise, civic virtue, family life, religious freedom, and American principles." - The New Republic
“It has become more and more clear to me that, to really take us on to the next chapter, I need to dedicate my entire time to the artistic direction of this organization,” Alex Poots said. - The New York Times
"The Muslim Public Affairs Council has published a statement urging reinstatement of an art history professor who was fired from Hamline University in Minnesota after showing her class Medieval paintings depicting the Prophet Muhammad." Indeed, MPAC said she should be thanked for "educating students … in a critically empathetic manner." - Artnet
"An article in the $1.7 trillion Omnibus Appropriations Bill passed on 22 December … paves the way for the Biden administration to rejoin and finance the UNESCO organisation — the United Nations culture and education body — as well as pay the huge debt accumulated in membership dues." - The Art Newspaper
After Dr. López Prater showed the image, a senior in the class complained to the administration. Other Muslim students, not in the course, supported the student, saying the class was an attack on their religion. They demanded that officials take action. - The New York Times
"The wrecks are a threat to other vessels – a boat's engine may be damaged if it passes over them. But they are an even bigger threat to the ecosystem, leaking chemicals, fuel and microplastics as the boats disintegrate in the water." - The Guardian
"These visions, whether expressed through science fiction, music or art, are rooted in staples of traditional Indian culture such as spirituality and folk customs. But they're also universally appealing, thanks to provocative design, cutting-edge technology, captivating sonics and their emphasis on diversity and self-reliance." - BBC
On the 4½-hour trip between the German capital and the Polish city of Wrocław, "passengers encounter writers, musicians, creative artists, a library and a permanent exhibition. The project was originally designed for a six-month period, but it was so successful that it was never discontinued." - Deutsche Welle
“We suffer from an overabundance of history not as a method of or analysis, but as anachronistic data points for the articulation of competing politics.” - The New York Times
Maia Kobabe, author of Gender Queer: "I drew as much as I felt like I needed to tell the story that I was trying to tell and get the points across that I was trying to make. And I honestly think the book is a lot less explicit than it could be." - NPR
"As with the historic storm that pummeled the Bay Area over New Year's weekend, the outside world doesn't always stay outside. Now flooded venues … are just hoping they don't suffer more damage (from the) so-called 'bomb cyclone' (and) 'pineapple express'" storms this week. - San Francisco Chronicle
It does not benefit either the arts or the government for politicians to be involved in arts funding. The current controversy is an excellent example of what happens when ministers overstretch. An orderly retreat would be in everyone’s best interests. - The Stage
