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Why I Started A Free-Speech Magazine at Duke
James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | March 20, 2025 | Sherman Criner

Posted on 03/20/2025 5:01:19 AM PDT by karpov

At America’s elite universities, we are told that pursuing free inquiry and civil discourse is a fundamental value. Administrators champion “grand” initiatives such as the Duke Provost’s Initiative on Free Inquiry (though it is laughable that a university feels the need to announce its commitment to free inquiry; is that not the point of academia?), roll out glossy programs housed in liberal echo chambers, and occasionally invite conservative speakers such as Liz Cheney—sorry, I meant conservative speakers such as Richard Burr.

In reality, these institutions have largely failed to cultivate an environment where civil discourse can organically flourish. Instead of fostering a culture of intellectual rigor where the best ideas win, they settle for performative gestures that keep everyone comfortably in line. If this sounds familiar, it’s because universities such as Duke have been running the same tired playbook for years—addressing historical racial discrimination with cosmetic fixes, as if renaming buildings and creating bureaucratic diversity offices will magically undo deep-seated problems.

Now, they apply the same strategy to free inquiry: Roll out a few initiatives, check the “intellectual diversity” box, and call it a day.

Despite these challenges, many others in the Duke community and I refused to accept that civil discourse is impossible or that ideological orthodoxy must be the default state of university life. That is why I co-founded The Lemur: Duke’s Big Ideas Magazine—to challenge prevailing narratives, create a genuine platform for intellectual engagement, and prove that meaningful dialogue can and should thrive on college campuses.

(Excerpt) Read more at jamesgmartin.center ...


TOPICS: Education; Politics
KEYWORDS: college; duke

1 posted on 03/20/2025 5:01:19 AM PDT by karpov
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To: karpov
… and occasionally invite conservative speakers such as Liz Cheney—

Stopped reading.

2 posted on 03/20/2025 5:07:38 AM PDT by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump)
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To: HIDEK6

He’s making fun of them. They only allow “conservative” speakers like Liz Cheney.


3 posted on 03/20/2025 5:15:30 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: FreedomPoster

Oh. Thank you.


4 posted on 03/20/2025 5:25:41 AM PDT by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump)
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To: karpov

BTTT


5 posted on 03/20/2025 5:57:06 AM PDT by nopardons
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To: karpov

Trivia tidbit...

Richard Nixon was a graduate of Duke Law School and wanted to put his library here, but Duke refused to have it.

Trump’s top advisor Steven Miller graduated from Duke. Miller was involved in conservative causes during his youth, serving as the president of the Duke chapter of Horowitz’s Students for Academic Freedom and writing conservative columns for the school newspaper.


6 posted on 03/20/2025 6:19:23 AM PDT by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: HIDEK6

Duke had the Trump hating corrupt Gregg Nunziata speak here last month.

Gregg Nunziata now works for George Conway at the Society for the Rule of Law, a George Soros funded organization.

Gregg Nunziata was an aid to both Rubio and Thune. He was Chief legal counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee and was instrumental in the selection of Trump’s judges for appointment. No wonder Trump picked many lower judges!


7 posted on 03/20/2025 6:26:01 AM PDT by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: tired&retired

That’s Loser Judges...


8 posted on 03/20/2025 6:26:52 AM PDT by tired&retired (Blessings )
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