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Disinviting a professor from a panel on academic freedom for exercising her academic freedom is, to put it mildly, a bad look. That’s why FIREis glad to report the Universities of Wisconsin system backed off such an ill-advised course of action. 

The Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue will host a discussion on academic freedom at a faculty retreat next month with UW-Milwaukee professor Rachel Buff, the former head of the UW-Milwaukee chapter of the American Association of University Professors, and ��֭����’s Director of Campus Rights Advocacy Lindsie Rank. 

But last week, UW officials privately demanded that Buff be disinvited. Their reason? Buff’s , as well as her  in the encampment protest on campus last May. 

On Friday, ��֭���� wrote UW system President Jay O. Rothman to demand that the UW system reverse its decision. As we told the university: 

While the University of Wisconsin system does exercise some authority over WICCD’s activities, it should wield that authority in ways that maximize the atmosphere for academic freedom for its faculty and may not do so in ways that compromise that freedom. By demanding Buff’s disinvitation because of her political speech, UW sends a deeply chilling message to WICCD’s leadership and to UW faculty as a whole.

On Monday, UW responded by affirming its commitment to academic freedom and confirming that the retreat will proceed as originally planned, clearing the way for Buff to speak at the panel. 

“It is appropriate to review an individual's adherence to both the First Amendment and time, place and manner restrictions when determining who to contract and pay to speak at a private professional development conference,” wrote UW Vice President for University Relations Chris Patton. “It was this type of review that I requested be performed.”

WICCD is a subunit of the Universities of Wisconsin system intended to promote viewpoint diversity, free inquiry, and academic freedom, both within UW schools and society at large. In its , UW has crowed that WICCD “seeks to enhance democracy through civil dialogue in a robust marketplace of ideas.”

We give the system credit for backing off and getting its priorities straight, allowing WICCD to fulfill its commendable mission.