The concepts you've written about such as academic freedom and institutional neutrality have been adopted by our neighbor to the north (Univ of Wyoming) ... see https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/01/09/guest-column-uw/ for an excellent article about this. (The UW video referenced in the article also is informative).
Which is why as a CU alum (EE, '74), I no longer financially support CU and instead support UW.
Roger missed this THB but generally knew the news. I never was interested in tenure and have done fine without it. About that I would say that tenure provides great cover when tenured faculty go on attack against others for their views (like me). Other tenured faculty (like you and countless others) are fair game. So it cuts both ways. The low bar of higher ed. You'll have fun at AEI. You have plenty to do!
Wow, that really is a shocking story, and must be a horrible experience. With so many colleagues just looking on and saying nothing. Good for you for getting out.
Everyone is talking about the importance of diversity and inclusion, but don't divert too much or you won't be included anymore...
Similar to what happens when I post a critical comment on Big Oil or Shell on LinkedIn; I get dm's from people at Shell telling me they like my post. But there are only a few people that feel comfortable to do so publicly on LI.
Self-censoring is a sign that the D&I training is not working very well... ;-)
Roger - thanks for all that you do and congratulations on finding a convivial home at AEI. Which reminds me that I need to send a donation to support all the work that AEI does.
Great piece, Roger. Lots of incredible stuff here, but the purpose of the new climate center at CU-Boulder is beyond parody:
To "design and test interventions that nudge and boost people toward sustainable attitudes, beliefs, and behavior that will meet the climate challenge. These include changes to civic action and engagement that supports substantive policy as well as changes to individual consumption."
Right. That'll be easy. "Changes to individual consumption..." Does that include residents of Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) where per-capital electricity use is +/- 180 kWh/year? Should those people being changing their consumption? What about the 2B who are still cooking with traditional biomass?
Much of climatism is little more than Western conceit, or as Rob Henderson put it, it's a luxury belief. No wonder it's taken root at CU-Boulder.
Thanks for sharing this story Roger. It sounds like you would have grounds for a constructive dismissal suit, and maybe you looked into that. Although in general I think courts these days are getting to be as useless as universities at seeking the truth and upholding due process. It's very sad what has happened to western universities. They are rapidly spending down their reputational capital, as have many other once-trusted institutions. They too will empty out, gradually then suddenly.
Amazing story; thank you for sharing this. I'm sure every reader experiences his or her (or other!) feelings when reading it. I find the attitudes inexplicable but I wonder about the timing given when Boulder was exploring divorcing itself from its electric utility (Xcel Energy) and forming its own electric utility. I just checked who serve Boulder electricity now and it is still XCel; I don't know what happened with the 'own utility' concept but it appraently did not succeed (they rarely do - see the APPA website!). Anyway, thank you so much, both for shaing this and for your tieless research into one of the more puzzling, and controversial, topics that exists these days. When I truly want to understand something, scientific, there are very few voices I trust. You are one, in the company of Vaclav Smil. Thank you!
Great post, of a very sad story. One that is, unfortunately, becoming more common.
As is my habit, a question. Has the ACLU made any inquiries about this? Usually, they get pretty agitated when "religious displays" are placed on public grounds. In some ways, one could construe this as religious persecution.
This story and the associated behaviour metered out to you are utterly appalling.
You have my utmost respect for how you conducted yourself during what must have been a surreal time. Can you please share how I can best contact you directly?
How much of the nonsense you suffered was because of ideological differences and how much because of good old-fashioned academic rivalry and backstabbing? My guess is that the first provided an excuse for the latter. It sounds to me like your department heads were great examples of symbolic capitalists.
Roger, it is an awful story, and as you mention not uncommon for those who think differently. I admire your energy, It is a chore to keep telling the story. My left-leaning woke friends never believe this sort of story. It can't be, they must think, or they tow a party line. Either way, they are blinkered; or they sincerely believe that they are always right and that the ends justify the means.
Excellent article! Thank you.
The concepts you've written about such as academic freedom and institutional neutrality have been adopted by our neighbor to the north (Univ of Wyoming) ... see https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/01/09/guest-column-uw/ for an excellent article about this. (The UW video referenced in the article also is informative).
Which is why as a CU alum (EE, '74), I no longer financially support CU and instead support UW.
Roger missed this THB but generally knew the news. I never was interested in tenure and have done fine without it. About that I would say that tenure provides great cover when tenured faculty go on attack against others for their views (like me). Other tenured faculty (like you and countless others) are fair game. So it cuts both ways. The low bar of higher ed. You'll have fun at AEI. You have plenty to do!
Wow, that really is a shocking story, and must be a horrible experience. With so many colleagues just looking on and saying nothing. Good for you for getting out.
Yes, exactly
The bystander dynamic was pretty remarkable
Even among my friends
Since I wrote this I have heard from a lot of unhappy faculty
Sad state of affairs
Everyone is talking about the importance of diversity and inclusion, but don't divert too much or you won't be included anymore...
Similar to what happens when I post a critical comment on Big Oil or Shell on LinkedIn; I get dm's from people at Shell telling me they like my post. But there are only a few people that feel comfortable to do so publicly on LI.
Self-censoring is a sign that the D&I training is not working very well... ;-)
Roger - thanks for all that you do and congratulations on finding a convivial home at AEI. Which reminds me that I need to send a donation to support all the work that AEI does.
Great piece, Roger. Lots of incredible stuff here, but the purpose of the new climate center at CU-Boulder is beyond parody:
To "design and test interventions that nudge and boost people toward sustainable attitudes, beliefs, and behavior that will meet the climate challenge. These include changes to civic action and engagement that supports substantive policy as well as changes to individual consumption."
Right. That'll be easy. "Changes to individual consumption..." Does that include residents of Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) where per-capital electricity use is +/- 180 kWh/year? Should those people being changing their consumption? What about the 2B who are still cooking with traditional biomass?
Much of climatism is little more than Western conceit, or as Rob Henderson put it, it's a luxury belief. No wonder it's taken root at CU-Boulder.
Thanks for sharing this story Roger. It sounds like you would have grounds for a constructive dismissal suit, and maybe you looked into that. Although in general I think courts these days are getting to be as useless as universities at seeking the truth and upholding due process. It's very sad what has happened to western universities. They are rapidly spending down their reputational capital, as have many other once-trusted institutions. They too will empty out, gradually then suddenly.
I apologize for laughing out loud while reading this, but it has an absurdist literary vibe. Very Catch-22 or Dr Strangelove.
Amazing story; thank you for sharing this. I'm sure every reader experiences his or her (or other!) feelings when reading it. I find the attitudes inexplicable but I wonder about the timing given when Boulder was exploring divorcing itself from its electric utility (Xcel Energy) and forming its own electric utility. I just checked who serve Boulder electricity now and it is still XCel; I don't know what happened with the 'own utility' concept but it appraently did not succeed (they rarely do - see the APPA website!). Anyway, thank you so much, both for shaing this and for your tieless research into one of the more puzzling, and controversial, topics that exists these days. When I truly want to understand something, scientific, there are very few voices I trust. You are one, in the company of Vaclav Smil. Thank you!
Unbelievably petty of them to treat you this way. It sounds like they gave you the Milton treatment from the movie “Office Space.”
And just like Milton, you will win the end. They are still stuck in their boring bureaucratic jobs, and you are doing what you love on Substack!
Toxic work environments always drive out the best employees because they are the ones that have options.
Great post, of a very sad story. One that is, unfortunately, becoming more common.
As is my habit, a question. Has the ACLU made any inquiries about this? Usually, they get pretty agitated when "religious displays" are placed on public grounds. In some ways, one could construe this as religious persecution.
Thank you for this insightful evaluation of Boulder Colorado know-it-all elite.
I’m very sorry you’ve experienced this shameful and cowardly behavior, and proud to have you as a colleague.
Roger
This story and the associated behaviour metered out to you are utterly appalling.
You have my utmost respect for how you conducted yourself during what must have been a surreal time. Can you please share how I can best contact you directly?
Thanks Chris, you can just respond to any of my posts that show up in your email and that'll come straight to me!
How much of the nonsense you suffered was because of ideological differences and how much because of good old-fashioned academic rivalry and backstabbing? My guess is that the first provided an excuse for the latter. It sounds to me like your department heads were great examples of symbolic capitalists.
It's a good Q. Academia can be pretty cutthroat in the best of times. I didn't have any rivals, at least from my side ;-)
To quote Vinegar Joe Stilwell, "illegitimi non carborundum"!
Roger, it is an awful story, and as you mention not uncommon for those who think differently. I admire your energy, It is a chore to keep telling the story. My left-leaning woke friends never believe this sort of story. It can't be, they must think, or they tow a party line. Either way, they are blinkered; or they sincerely believe that they are always right and that the ends justify the means.
Thanks Tim ... an interesting set of experiences to be sure!