Overview

Why institutional neutrality is nothing but an illusion. Can a university ever truly be neutral in today's social and political climate? Pushing against the tide of universities increasingly pledging to stay neutral about contentious issues, law professor Brian Soucek argues that their promises are doomed to fail—universities can't help being opinionated. In The Opinionated University, Soucek shows that neutrality is a myth by taking a deep dive into several prominent campus controversies of the day, including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and restrictions on campus speech and protest. Each issue requires universities to choose a side in what they do, if not also in what they say. In everything from curricular and admissions decisions to their response to outside rankings and their evaluation of faculty, universities express the values at the heart of their mission. Soucek argues that those pushing for neutrality are only preventing universities from standing up for their values, whether in today's current moment of crisis or in periods of political calm. Both timely and deeply engaging, The Opinionated University calls on universities to dispense with neutrality as a governing principle and focus instead on what their mission should be, and who should determine it.

Full Product Details

9780226839653

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Reviews

""Soucek provides a nuanced approach to some of the most pressing issues surrounding university speech today. The book is rooted not only in his deep understanding of constitutional law and academic freedom, but also in a fine-grained view of how a university operates, as he considers the perspectives of students, faculty, administrators, parents, and politicians."" -- Sigal R. Ben-Porath, author of 'Cancel Wars: How Universities Can Foster Free Speech, Promote Inclusion, and Renew Democracy'

Author Information

Brian Soucek is a Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law at the University of California, Davis. A scholar of free speech and equality law, Soucek has shaped national policy on academic freedom, nondiscrimination, and campus speech through his work with the American Association of University Professors’ “Committee A” on Academic Freedom and Tenure and the University of California’s Academic Senate.

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