Kansas Board of Regents

Over 100 Kansas Distinguished Profs to KBOR: Rescind New Termination Policy Immediately.

February 2, 2021Philip NelAcademe, Education, Kansas, Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas State University, University of Kansas, Wichita State University, Work

03 distinguished professors from four Kansas universities (K-State, KU, Wichita State, KUMC) are calling for an immediate end to the Kansas Board of Regents’ new termination policy. It threatens long-term damage to the missions of each institution. It undermines the purpose of tenure, which is to allow faculty to pursue their scholarship without fear of repercussions. Academic freedom is the foundation upon which we build discovery, robust research, scholarship and creative activities.

Why Campus Carry Threatens Higher Education

March 24, 2016Philip NelAcademe, Censorship, Death, Education, Guns, Kansas, Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas State University, University of KansasAcademe, Censorship, Death, Education, Guns, Kansas, Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas State University, University of Kansas3 Comments

Today, I’m joining other members of K-SAFE (K-Staters Against Fatal Encounters) and the KCGFC (Kansas Coalition for a Gun-Free Campus) at the statehouse, in Topeka. There, we’ll hand out flyers that – we hope – will show our legislators the grave danger the “Kansas Personal and Family Protection Act.” Yes, this is really the name

When will I be shot dead?

October 1, 2015Philip NelAcademe, Death, Education, Guns, Kansas, Kansas Board of RegentsAcademe, Death, Education, Guns, Kansas, Kansas Board of Regents1 Comment

As we read the news of yet another shooting at a school (the 17th on a college campus this year, the 45th school shooting this year*), I cannot help but wonder: when will I be among those murdered? Earlier this year, a roving gunman had the campus of Kansas State University (where I teach) on

The Sound of Silence; or, the Kansas Legislature’s Latest Blunder

February 6, 2015Philip NelCensorship, Dunderheads, Kansas, Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas State UniversityCensorship, Dunderheads, Kansas, Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas State University2 Comments

In 2013, the Kansas Board of Regents revoked university employees’ right to freedom of speech, making a fireable offense any speech that might be conceived as disloyal, impair discipline, or fall under the broad category of being “contrary to the best interests of the employer.” Now, the Kansas legislature is proposing legislation that prohibits university

Freedom of Speech Returns to Kansas Universities?

October 31, 2014Philip NelBill Snyder, Censorship, Kansas, Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas State UniversityBill Snyder, Censorship, Kansas, Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas State University3 Comments

Good news for employees of Kansas universities. Freedom of speech appears to have been restored! You see, the Kansas Board of Regents’ recently passed social media policy says employees of Regents-governed Kansas universities do not have the right to freedom of speech. To be specific, employees can be fired for speech that “impairs discipline by

Kansas State University’s NEW Academic Freedom Statement

August 11, 2014Philip NelCensorship, Education, Kansas, Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas State UniversityCensorship, Education, Kansas, Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas State University2 Comments

In response to the Kansas Board of Regents’ draconian, unconstitutional social media policy, a group of concerned faculty and students from Kansas State University drafted an Academic Freedom statement, during this past summer. I was not a member of this group, but I fully endorse their statement, which can be found asÂ no. 3 on Kansas

Posters for Harmony, Loyalty, and Discipline

May 17, 2014Philip Nel1984, Censorship, Dystopia, Education, George Orwell, Kansas, Kansas Board of Regents1984, Censorship, Dystopia, Education, George Orwell, Kansas, Kansas Board of Regents8 Comments

Under the Kansas Board of Regents‘ brave new social media policy, the faculty and staff of Kansas universities must make sure thatÂ their speech is harmonious, loyal, and conducive to discipline. Â So, the Kansas Board of Regents’ Committee for Harmony, Loyalty and Discipline is here to help youÂ monitor speech. Our staff artist, Comrade Warner, has created

Freedom of Speech in Kansas: What Next?

May 16, 2014Philip NelCensorship, Democracy, Dunderheads, Education, Kansas Board of RegentsCensorship, Democracy, Dunderheads, Education, Kansas Board of Regents2 Comments

In light of the Kansas Board of Regents’ decision to double down on itsÂ repressive social media policy, people keep asking me: What next? First, we may have lost this battle, but that doesn’t mean we’ll lose the war. In any case, opposing injustice does not mean that you’re going to win every time. The Kansas

The Committee for Harmony, Loyalty, and Discipline: The Mixes

May 15, 2014Philip NelCensorship, Democracy, Education, Kansas Board of Regents, Mixes, MusicCensorship, Democracy, Education, Kansas Board of Regents, Mixes, Music2 Comments

Because every revolution needs a soundtrack, I assembled a couple of CDs of songs for the drive to and from Topeka, for yesterday’s Kansas Board of Regents meeting. True, the drive isÂ notÂ in fact that long (only an hour each way), but creating playlists is a form of thinking. It’s something I do for fun. Really.

The object of power is power: a report from today’s Kansas Board of Regents meeting

May 14, 2014Philip Nel1984, Censorship, Democracy, Dystopia, Education, George Orwell, Kansas, Kansas Board of RegentsCensorship, Democracy, Dystopia, Education, Kansas, Kansas Board of Regents20 Comments

“The object of power is power.” – O’Brien, in George Orwell’sÂ 1984 To support the basic right to freedom of speech and to stand up for academic freedom, faculty, staff, and students from Kansas universities attended today’s Kansas Board of Regents meeting in Topeka, Kansas. The room was packed: standing room only. Â The Board of Regents