Why tenure is needed? Here's why.

[Insula Dei]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/wisconsin-gop-youre-damn-right-we-requested-walker-critics-emails/2011/03/03/AFytRNWB_blog.html

Very disgusting story,...

[Dgov]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/wisconsin-gop-youre-damn-right-we-requested-walker-critics-emails/2011/03/03/AFytRNWB_blog.html

Very disgusting story,...

What does this have to do with Tenure?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/wisconsin-gop-youre-damn-right-we-requested-walker-critics-emails/2011/03/03/AFytRNWB_blog.html

Very disgusting story,...

What does this have to do with Tenure?

[Insula Dei]

If there's one type of job where speaking out without having to risk your job is a good thing, it are jobs in academia.

[Holmes]

If there's one type of job where speaking out without having to risk your job is a good thing, it are jobs in academia.

I've noticed that that's all professors in humanities, social sciences, etc. do in the classroom anyway.

[DrScholl]

Yet another step too far, it just gets more ridiculous.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I'm sorry, but what does this have to do with tenure?

[Dgov]

Yet another step too far, it just gets more ridiculous.

Not really.  If this was the left, they'd have just hacked their emails and published the contents already.  At least the WIGOP is being a partisan hack LEGALLY.

[King]

Yet another step too far, it just gets more ridiculous.

Not really.  If this was the left, they'd have just hacked their emails and published the contents already.  At least the WIGOP is being a partisan hack LEGALLY.

Warning: Statement not based on fact or reason.

This applies to the whole thread, really.

[DrScholl]

Not really.  If this was the left, they'd have just hacked their emails and published the contents already.  At least the WIGOP is being a partisan hack LEGALLY.

This has nothing to do with the left, it is about Republicans. I don't care rather it's legal or not, it's still retaliation and poor form for a political party. They're looking for something to get the professor fired, since criticizing Governor Walker alone is only a good enough reason for firing in their only heads.

[Bacon King]

Yet another step too far, it just gets more ridiculous.

Not really.  If this was the left, they'd have just hacked their emails and published the contents already.  At least the WIGOP is being a partisan hack LEGALLY.

False equivalency. 4chan is a bunch of random kids hiding behind proxies on the internet; the Wisconsin GOP is a major political party whose members completely control a state government.

This is nothing but the attempted intimidation of a critic. I highly doubt an open records law can be legitimately used to look at private emails; if so then this professor should go to court because then this law is quite clearly unconstitutional.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Yet another step too far, it just gets more ridiculous.

Not really.  If this was the left, they'd have just hacked their emails and published the contents already.  At least the WIGOP is being a partisan hack LEGALLY.

False equivalency. 4chan is a bunch of random kids hiding behind proxies on the internet; the Wisconsin GOP is a major political party whose members completely control a state government.

This is nothing but the attempted intimidation of a critic. I highly doubt an open records law can be legitimately used to look at private emails; if so then this professor should go to court because then this law is quite clearly unconstitutional.

They can... because it's a university e-mail account (I'm assuming that's what they're requesting).  Those kinds of requests happen all the time at CMU.

[Franzl]

If there's one type of job where speaking out without having to risk your job is a good thing, it are jobs in academia.

Yeah, never mind whether they're any good at their job. Not important.

[Badger]

Not 100% sure if this is the best argument for tenure as opposed to strong first amendment protections for public employees, but the WI GOP's thuggish response shows this is why recalls are needed.

[Insula Dei]

If there's one type of job where speaking out without having to risk your job is a good thing, it are jobs in academia.

Yeah, never mind whether they're any good at their job. Not important.

Errrr.... How on earth do you make that from my quote? Really can't quite fathom you imagine that's what I said or insinuated. The point is I don't think Academics should be afraid to lose their job if their political ideas (or the results of their research) happen to be at odds with what the government deems to be pleasant to hear

[krazen1211]

They can... because it's a university e-mail account (I'm assuming that's what they're requesting).  Those kinds of requests happen all the time at CMU.

Yep. Ontario v Quon from last year. Probably goes down the same road.

[John Dibble]

Disgusting, but doesn't have anything to do with tenure as far as I can tell. The issue here is privacy.

Of course, if they can get his e-mails then the obvious answer is tit for tat - if his e-mails from his university account are accessible, then so are those of the government e-mail accounts of every last GOP politician in the state. The GOP is wielding a double edged sword here.

[J. J.]

Disgusting, but doesn't have anything to do with tenure as far as I can tell. The issue here is privacy.

Of course, if they can get his e-mails then the obvious answer is tit for tat - if his e-mails from his university account are accessible, then so are those of the government e-mail accounts of every last GOP politician in the state. The GOP is wielding a double edged sword here.

I'd suspect they already have the public official's e-mail.

As someone that advises groups in litigation, I basically have a rule, Don't put stuff in e-mail that will be embarrassing in court.  The professor should have realized something similar could have happened with a public account.

Sorry, but I won't feel sorry for a professor that is an idiot.

[Insula Dei]

Disgusting, but doesn't have anything to do with tenure as far as I can tell. The issue here is privacy.

Of course, if they can get his e-mails then the obvious answer is tit for tat - if his e-mails from his university account are accessible, then so are those of the government e-mail accounts of every last GOP politician in the state. The GOP is wielding a double edged sword here.

I'd suspect they already have the public official's e-mail.

As someone that advises groups in litigation, I basically have a rule, Don't put stuff in e-mail that will be embarrassing in court.  The professor should have realized something similar could have happened with a public account.

Sorry, but I won't feel sorry for a professor that is an idiot.

BTW, this is not just 'a professor', but the president of the AHA, which is supposedly a big deal.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

So anyone who isn't paranoid is an idiot? I just hope that those who are alright with this sort of thing have never whined about 'freedom' and/or 'liberty' in any context, ever.

Maybe you - and the Wisconsin GOP - should consider getting jobs at the News of the World.

[The Professor]

Tenure is most definitely needed. I would know; I am a professor

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Tenure is most definitely needed. I would know; I am a professor

And why is it needed?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Not 100% sure if this is the best argument for tenure as opposed to strong first amendment protections for public employees, but the WI GOP's thuggish response shows this is why recalls are needed.

First Amendment protects your right to say things, not your right to say things and keep them "private" while using government property.

[DrScholl]

But what legitimate reason do they have to request to view these emails? It's not as if they are  suggesting any impropriety other than criticism of the Governor, which isn't a legitimate reason. The First Amendment comes in because it looks like the party is trying to penalize dissent.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

But what legitimate reason do they have to request to view these emails? It's not as if they are  suggesting any impropriety other than criticism of the Governor, which isn't a legitimate reason. The First Amendment comes in because it looks like the party is trying to penalize dissent.

I have no clue... I didn't request the e-mails.  Bur requesting them =/= penalizing him.