This page is about my 2019 "cancelling". It started when a 300,000-follower Twitter account devoted mainly to stories of bad boyfriends, @SheRatesDogs , posted a screenshot of a November 19 tweet in which I quoted someone saying "Geniuses are overwhelmingly male because they combine outlier high IQ with moderately low Agreeableness and moderately low Conscientiousness," from an article titled, "Are Women Destroying Academia? Probably". That tweet received at least 29,000 "likes" and generated complaints to my university. The Provost of Indiana University-Bloomington, Lauren Robel, and the Dean of its Kelley School of Business where I was employed, Idalene Kesner, then published statements calling me reprehensible, sexist, racist, homophobic, intolerant of women, disrespectful to women, intolerant of racial diversity, unchristian, vile, stupid, bigoted, and loathsome. Hard to believe? Take a look at Lauren's statement and Idie's. I published a fisking reply going over the Provost's false claims one by one, and an article titled "Fire Professor Eric Rasmusen? Or Fire Provost Lauren Robel Instead?". I have a page of 2019 updates that I didn't incorporate on this page, including the story of the blood (fake) dripped at my house.
I mean to write up the whole story some day, but as of 2024 I still haven't gotten round to it. I have since retired and am now happily teaching 7th-grade math, writing Substack essays, helping professors being persecuted by their universities, being a director of the MIT Free Speech Alliance (MFSA),, and writing amicus briefs, e.g. NetChoice v. Paxton (TechLords v. Texas), U.S. Supreme Court (2024). I have posted encouraging and negative comments later on this page. My page of LESSONS in strategy and tactics is what may be most useful now that the kerfuffle is over.
Readers may also be interested in my Cancellings Page, which has links to articles about many other people who were cancelled.
I compiled a few news links, but gave up quickly, though I've kept a folder of them on my computer. Josh Blackman has written a blogpost on the caselaw.
A lot of outright falsehoods have been circulated about me--- falsehoods so blatant that attorneys have suggested I could win a defamation case even though I would count as a "public figure". Don't trust anybody--including me--not to lie. See if we provide links, and if we don't, be skeptical till you see evidence.
See my reply to the Provost, going sentence by sentence through her statement. She lies about my opinions--- or, at least, she carelessly attributes specific opinions to me that I have never held, without evidence (no links) and without checking their accuracy with me. Do not believe what liberals tell you. The Washington Post, for example said in the original version of their article that I, Eric Rasmusen, wrote the article, "Are Women Destroying Academia? Probably". All they needed to do was look to see that the author was "Lance Welton". The Post did correct its error after readers pointed it out to them, but they didn't do any fact-checking themselves. If the media can't get the simplest fact right, don't trust their summaries. Be suspicious of articles that don't give links to their sources.
Below, I have put excerpts from encouraging comments. In separate files are a mix of additional positive, and also negative, comments and just negative comments.
My Nov. 20 press statement:
"To show students that they need not fear bias in grading, Indiana University's Provost, Lauren Robel, and the Kelley School of Business's Dean, Idalene Kesner, are condemning me, a dissident professor. Besides being condemned publicly, I am being required to use blind grading and students are allowed to opt out of my class. This, it is claimed, will make students relaxed and feel able to express their political views without fear of retribution. Having seen the Provost and Dean down on a professor who does not share their views, students will feel more comfortable in expressing their own views--- that is, they will know what to expect if they speak freely in the classes of the 99% of professors who are (a) leftwing, and (b) exempt from blind grading. Indiana University is not discouraging bias, but encouraging it, even requiring it, as a condition of teaching. There are views you're not supposed to express, even outside of class, and God help the conservative student whose professor checks Facebook and Twitter before grading term papers. In the pastI've had Christian and conservative students shyly approach me to say how happy they were to finally find a professor who was open in his beliefs. I hope to encourage them as much as I can."
My pastor once said to me, "Eric, I want you to be persecuted, but I want you to be persecuted for being a Christian, too, and not just for being a conservative." "It's just my religious faith" is too often offered as an excuse for an unpopular belief; we should also tolerate dissident political beliefs.
Below are some of the encouraging emails I've gotten. I've left out parts, and in particular have left out any identifying information.
***
I've seen many of the disgusting and slanderous remarks made towards you on social media today. I'm glad to see a person of esteemed academic status unabashedly sharing and espousing authentic conservative viewpoints. It's ironic how many people who call themselves 'academics' would also break down at the mention of IQ research, studies on gender differences, or the negatives of immigration; whether culturally or economically. I'm sure you deal with this on a daily basis, especially at a campus like IU, but I often think about how I will navigate a field later in my career that is becoming increasingly hostile to people with our viewpoints, and is ran almost exclusively by atheists and bad-actors who promote "fake science" and degenerate behavior. I wish you the absolute best in your endeavors; Jesus Christ will prevail, and the truth will be revealed! God Bless.
***
My guess is that it's probably anything but easy for you to live through the current culture wars. And I hope you can believe when I say that my intention is not one of sarcasm or wanting to hurt. Quite the opposite. From what I can tell, you are going through a set of experiences that I wouldn't wish on anyone--from the amount of misunderstanding you sense coming from your colleagues and maybe even those who you once counted among your friends, over baseless accusations by members of the general public, to extreme forms of harassment that those who find your views hard to integrate probably sling at you.
This may sound weird coming from a gay man, but please don't give up!
I'm not convinced by all your arguments, far from it (and would appreciate, for instance, if you have evidence speaking to the unsuitability of gay teachers in grade/high school to provide that; comparing whatever "bad" things gay teachers might do with similar problems that might arise from straight male teachers pursuing girls; that is specifically the question whether gay "promiscuity" is a causal driver in additional harm perpetrated on male students, compared to sexual misbehavior any teacher may commit in the context of their work place).
But I firmly believe that you have not only the right to your opinion (First Amendment), but rather that your opinions, generally speaking, hold some forgotten "wisdom" that could otherwise be easily ignored. I'm avoiding the word "truth", because that suggests "eternal truth" and a fixedness in the propositional content, and human nature is so adaptive and changing that I do not believe many fixed statements about it could ever do it justice.
In the (for me seemingly unlikely) case you wish to (briefly) exchange thoughts about how I--if I were attempting to convey your positions to people who seem to be unable to understand--might put a few things differently, feel free to write back :)
We live in difficult times, and although most people who oppose you may, for the moment, feel that they "must win" (insofar as they don't feel that they have won already), I fear that without finding our way back to a more integrated "common sense" that appreciates that not everything that leads to "equity" is necessarily a "good thing", the times will only get darker, and we will all lose eventually.
Hoping that you will find some understanding, in maybe sometimes unexpected places, that will allow you to stay sane and not give in and not give up.
***
Hello Professor Rasmusen,
We have neither spoken nor met prior to this email, but I was compelled to write to you some words of support after witnessing the recent slander of your name.
I would like to emphatically tell you that you are not alone on campus. Despite the constant propaganda exalting deviance and sexual immorality, there certainly exists a significant column of conservative students at Indiana University who thoroughly rebuke and repudiate those vices � with the same vigor that our Provost has rebuked and repudiated common-sense values and dissident right intellectual discussion.
It must be a lonely position to find that your Provost and fellow faculty have abandoned you to the wolves of the WOKE agenda � if not joining those wolves themselves. These activists believe wholeheartedly in �inclusion and diversity' for subversive leftist dogma, but scream murder when the silent majority responds to rebut. This leftist cabal that has infiltrated media and academia swings libelous charges of racism, sexism, and bigotry like clubs against anyone brave enough to reject their hateful and fundamentally evil narratives. In a time where innocent Americans are getting brutally beaten in the streets over the charge of "racist" and "sexist" maybe we ought to consider these libelous campaigns as a veiled threat and even as an implicit call for leftist retaliatory violence. Perhaps someday these parasites in media and elsewhere will have their lying mouths shut for them.
This fiasco � among countless others � has given me significant cause to think very strategically about my public stances. The ultimate goal of these people is to deplatform every dissident and ensure that they are unable to find employment through media smears. Every conservative on campus I have ever spoken to desperately wants to make a difference, but is ultimately browbeaten into silence by the fear of reprisals. The powers at be are certainly making an example of you to maintain that atmosphere of fear, to intimidate anyone with the ability to think beyond the confines of what has been deemed appropriate.
I'd like to think that you might receive some form of organized support from College Republicans, the Young Americans for Freedom, or our chapter of Turning Point USA, however I fear that they are too weak and cowardly to even consider such action. If only we had a conservative organization on campus with some real teeth, one that would not tuck tail and hide when facing the slightest opposition. I sincerely hope that you have received private messages of support from your fellow faculty members and sympathetic actors; it's just unfortunate that they might compromise their own livelihoods in doing so publicly.
I wish you the best and hope that this storm fades quickly.
***
This is a throwaway email address. I don't really care about the content of what you said (really, quoted), one way or the other. I'm an atheist, maybe even an antitheist as Christopher Hitchens would say.
I just wanted to thank you for standing up for your heterodox political and social opinions in the face of horrible attacks. These people are obsessive and vile. What you are doing is quite important. I wish you the best of luck. There is an "other side" of relative normalcy waiting for you, I'm sure. On a side note, I wish there was a "1a" in Canada.
At the same time, I encourage you to be very very careful. Sharing things like articles from takimag/unz will be used against you. I'm sure you realize your school will be itching to find some way to fire you. They will investigate any claim of misconduct against you, no matter how ridiculous. Any opportunity you give them to hurt you will be used.
***
I'm a graduate student at another university and we have never met, but I've seen your story. I hope you stay strong in the face of immense backlash and know that there are people in other academic fields trying to do right the wrong narratives that have consumed the academy.
***
"I have lived with the liberal bias at IU for a while now. I am a firm believer and follower of Jesus Christ.
I have become aware of your current predicament and I must say I admire the courage and strength you have to express such an unpopular opinion in a place such as this ...
Politically I'm rather moderate, but I'm happy to let people believe what they want in life. However, I am getting so tired of the hypocrisy and self-righteousness of the left and the intolerance they display on a daily basis for anyone who might think differently than they do. They cry bigotry and are totally unaware of their own bigotry.
I think you are extremely courageous and I very much admire your stepping out like this. Something I don't have the strength to do just yet.
I wanted to point out that just a few weeks ago the Book of Mormon Musical was played on this campus. I find a great deal of hypocrisy in this because IU purports to espouse a "diversity and inclusion" statement as part of their educational mission. Yet they allow such a play to run on campus. The musical singles out a minority religious group for mocking and ridicule because of their beliefs, rituals, and culture, and because they are different from the mainstream. No steps are being taken by IU to ensure that bigotry doesn't happen against mormon students! No concern for religious students but the utmost concern for the political left's preferred people.
***
As a Christian conservative myself I am furious about their characterization of your tweets. I've read through a lot of your tweets looking for the reasons they've labeled you a racist, sexist and homophobe and cannot believe they drew the conclusions they did. They've clearly caved to the Twitter mob and shown they are too lazy to open their minds and make an effort to consider an alternative way of thinking to their own....
It is reassuring to know there is at least one professor in the Kelley School of Business that is not afraid to stand up for his beliefs and to fight back when those beliefs are questioned and mischaracterized. There is no greater lesson I would want my children to learn in their time at IU than to do the same thing and I will let both the Dean and Provost know that you are exactly the kind of professor I want my children learning from for that very reason.
***
In light of the mass negative publicity you are receiving, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for being an unashamed, bold, Calvinist Christian here on IU's campus. Being strong in what you believe is reassuring to me and many others. You are not alone in your beliefs on campus....
My freshman year, I repented & believed in Christ, and spent months learning from a great conservative church in town and became convicted of my feminist attitudes that were dangerous to my soul.... I hope to someday be a wonderful wife & mother, who is not praised for my academic & monetary success, but for known my obedience to God.
So that is a little bit of my background. Anyways, it is clear to me, as it has always been, that IU is not committed to diversity of thought, but rather becoming an echo chamber for their own "correct" opinion � squashing anyone who dares to question the liberal agenda. Objective "rights" have become wrongs, and many, many wrongs are the new "right". ...
Hebrews 13:6 "So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'"
***
I'm sure that you're being flooded with emails now, but I just wanted to write let to let you know that I 100% support you and I think that the school (in particular, the Dean and Provost) have acted abominably towards you.
I admire how open you are about both your faith and conservative beliefs. I have tried to do the same, and have been surprised at how difficult it is, especially in an environment that is supposed to be so "inclusive" and "tolerant." Additionally, I think that you have handled this entire witch hunt with a great deal of grace.
Don't let them beat you! I fear that they will try to use this issue to wear you down in the long run, and try to eventually force you into quitting. But hang in there and fight the good fight!
Matthew 5:11-12
11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart....
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help,
***
It's been very frustrating over the past several years to see how quickly IU has fallen down the social justice rabbit hole like every other education institution in this country. I've spoken out a few times on their FB posts, but what good does that do? Their direction undermines the direct value of my degree. I hope your courage to fight back helps galvanize other alumni to pressure administrators to back away from this constant socialist indoctrination that is sweeping every corner of education....
BTW, I agree with you. I have a Master's degree but elect to be a stay at home mother. I also moved my young family back to Indy to protect my children from getting involved in the CA education system.
***
I find it hilarious that Novicoff thinks they are combating Rasmusen's insensitive tweet by selling sweatshirts that say "Woman Genius." Does it not occur to her that geniuses, by definition, are a rare species? Does it not occur to her that, given the implications of the quote and what geniuses are actually like, *none* of these women would appreciate being labeled a "genius"? The quote says that geniuses are disagreeable and not conscientious. That's hardly a compliment. Let's just think about this for a moment. *If* Eric Rasmusen had said that women don't belong in academia... *If* he had said that women aren't very intelligent but instead rely on their feelings...*If* he had said that women are ruining academia by shutting down discourse... you all would be playing right into his hands. You're proving it. BUT RASMUSEN DIDN'T SAY ANY OF THAT. He only said that men are more likely than women to be insensitive jerk geniuses. And here's the real kicker... I know Rasmusen. And he's the closest thing to a genius that I know. Take that how you will (ummm yeah he's not being very agreeable is he??)
(A comment on the IDS article)
***
Wow. What kinds of milksops inhabit this campus that they think not just private tweets, but retweets, of so-called "dangerous" opinions are the scariest evil since Hitler's election? If the article had claimed that white men or conservatives were ruining academia, nobody would have blinked. (Also - what I've seen from this is that people don't understand statistics; geniuses are outliers, and men do tend to exemplify the extremes more frequently than women. It's just an interesting observation, not a rule that "ALL WOMEN ARE IDIOTS." In fact, he's saying the MEN are the idiot-savants.) Biases at their best. Gotta love thought-policing and cowardice.
Accuse him to his face, one-on-one, without knowing that there's an army of politically brainwashed zombies at your back. If people could stop loving to hate and muster up some courage and honesty, IU might actually have a healthy intellectual environment.
Amelia Rasmusen
Eric's progeny who loves him very much
Philosophy and German
National World's Debate Champion 2018
Oh -- and, BY THE WAY, I'm a BI-RACIAL WOMAN. And my dad thinks I'm smarter than you ;).
(A comment on the IDS article)
(I'm proud of Amelia's facility with words, but delighted that she still remembers the implications of higher-variance density functions!)
Just a quick note to let you know that our family is praying for you.
As I sat down this morning to pray the Psalms, my eyes fell immediately to Psalm 43: "Defend me, O God, and plead my cause against a godless nation. From deceitful and cunning men rescue me O God. . .O send forth your light and your truth; let these be my guide. Let them bring me to your holy mountain to the place where you dwell."
I attended Indiana University back in the late 1980's. The university's motto is Lux et Veritas. Oh, how things would be so very different if the faculty and staff followed it! I always pray much for the University--the professors, the students, the President & Board of Trustees, etc. And especially for you and your family right now. Thank you for being light and truth there. There are so many souls who are withering for lack of it.
***
Eric,
We don't know each other, but I've seen your name (unfortunately) in the news. With all the criticism directed towards you, I just wanted to offer by support and encouragement. Hang in there. I stand behind you and support you. Way to be strong! I'm impressed. Keep speaking the truth as best you know it, and I will too.
I'm a scientist and a Christian living in the Boston area who just came across your name while reading the paper on a Sunday morning.
After being inspired to support you with the first draft of this email, I stumbled across your 'Twitter Kerfuffle' page. I'm so glad to see that others support you two! Glad to see that you sound strong and not demoralized! Hang in there good sir, we need strong people like yourself in this world.
May God bless you.
***
Let's be honest. The Bible is homophobic, sexist, and racist. Hence, so are Judaism and Christianity. Well, okay, we Jews happen to think Judaism is a good thing, so since Judaism is all of those descriptions, then those descriptions must also be good things.
Hence, I have no problem being called sexist, racist, and homowhateveryoucall it. I am a proud sexist. Judaism is very sexist and makes no apology for it. I mean, we're not as bad as Islam that abuses women and treats them like dirt with no rights whatsoever. But, clearly, Judaism makes a division of labor. Men do our thing, women do theirs. We are not the same. Almost two different species. Both held in high esteem, though.
***
Just a quick note to say: Thank you for the positive externalities you're producing for out-of-the-mainstream faculty everywhere.
***
Prof. Rasmusen,
I make a habit of sending letters of encouragement to anyone who appears to me to be standing up for free speech and / or rationality in academia. I doubt you and I would agree about much (I'm gay, and I hold serious Marxism economics in high regard). But nothing you were quoted as saying struck me as obviously outside the bounds of reasoned discourse. These are dark times for free speech in higher ed. The identitarian diversocrat apparatchiks make my blood run cold (or boil, depending on the day).
***
It's interesting to observe this battle between Provost Robel and Professor Rasmusen. I see the machinations of an enormous bureaucracy attempting to grind down a squeaky wheel. Rasmusen clearly stands against the hot air blowing from a leftist-leaning university. Robel, a smarmy political creature and successful bureaucrat, wants to eradicate those who irritate the "community". While self-righteously pretending to wave the tattered (by people like herself) flag of "free speech", Robel signals her mob to take out the irritant Rasmusen.
She is the ultimate coward and bully. As is the case with every bully, her safety in ensconced in the subservient violent crowd willing to do her bidding - students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Robel should be fired for failing to stand behind the faculty's academic freedom.
***
Identity Politics is clearly a toxin to both the mind and soul. This scourge began even before I entered higher education at the University of California in the late 1980s, and still manifested itself as a destructive and corrosive influence which I can personally attest was a detriment to my formal education. Even 30 years later, I deeply resent the theft of educational services and the attempted indoctrination and propaganda that was served up to me instead.
If we had more people of conscience and courage such as yourself, working in positions of influence and control, this could be achieved. Our social compact, to the sense that one even exists, demands that differences of opinion must be accepted as a basic fact of human existence, and not allowed to become weaponized by a vicious mob.
***
Dear Prof. Rasmusen,
I'm sorry to hear of college students here at IU publicly insulting you and demanding that you be fired, and the interference with your grading. I never heard of you before two days ago, so I know almost nothing about you, but I believe that the intellectual freedom of the academic world is indispensible to its mission, and I support your right to say what you think, even, especially, if I disagree with it.
I just found your "Twitter kerfuffle" page. Your thoughtful, even cheerful, response to the people who treated you with such hostility is remarkable. Your responses have none of the *meanness* that I see in the attacks against you. I'm especially heartened to read the letters from others who support you and understand what is at stake. Who knows, maybe the kerfuffle will do some good: maybe it will help strengthen the consensus that the academic world is home for civility, diversity, and reason.
***
As an academic who shares some of your views I have had to carefully watch my speech at my school. I admire your courage and faith. I have no doubt that my school would find a way to fire me if they knew my political positions. Though I don't always like him I think Vox Day's advice in his books on SJW's is valuable in your position.
I don't think acts of lone courage like yours will turn around academia. We have failed to organize to give students a real alternative in education. This means leaving our students in the hands of people who hate Christ. I struggle with my duties to my family and to the truth because of the precariousness of my position. I am not going to put identifying information in email because its so easily hacked. But in some other forum I'd help in trying to organize a fight against the ideological takeover of education.
***
Today, on this rainy Saturday, I felt called to email you, Professor Rasemusen, because I feel like you need a friend. While I have heard of your hate for homosexuality, the black community and even women, what good would it do for me and others to hate you for your beliefs? That sounds contradicting to me. While you may not appreciate this email like I hope and pray you do, I do hope you know that you are loved, and despite the hate you may feel in your heart, I hope that even with those views, you can share the love you have, even if it is only a little, with the people who need it most. Do not let the hate in your heart take away the opportunity you have earned as a Professor at one of the best schools in the country. I will end with this incredible quote by the amazing Bob Goff, "We won't get a participation ribbon for loving; just a better understanding of what Jesus did."
***
Kelley student here. There's lots of student support for you, though it may not be expressed for fear of viewpoint discrimination from other teachers (irony isn't lost). The support is understandable given an increase in conservatism among my generation. (https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2017/08/11/why-democrats-should-be-losing-sleep-over-generation-z/ �). Just wanted to offer some encouragement. Godspeed!
***
A Bloomington Herald Times letter:
The article is about a set of very prejudiced ideas that Professor Rasmusen holds and has long expressed in private posts. It is a mystery to me how anyone can hold such views.
However, Professor Rasmusen is someone who has been repeatedly elected to represent the Kelley School on the Bloomington Faculty Council, and he has been a sustained contributor to campus faculty governance. In that role, I had many opportunities to work with him over a six-year period about twenty years ago, and in my experience there were few colleagues who were more conscientious in committee work, more supportive of the governance process, more congenial to work with, and more measured in debate. Occasionally some issue might reveal that Professor Rasmusen was a conservative, but never once did his engagement hint at the more extreme social views discussed here. They took me completely by surprise when they were first publicized in 2003. I understand from reporting at that time that they are reflections of deeply held religious convictions, and religion is something that, as you know, can sometimes be inspiring, but sometimes produces enormous blind spots that simpy resist all effort of the light to get in.
If you take part for whole--and, by its nature, a news story like this presents one aspect of the person as the whole of what we see--it may seem obvious that Professor Rasmusen is a "vile bigot." But knowing him, I cannot see him that way, in spite of the dangerous biases of his private ideas. Although I fully approve of the steps IU has taken to ensure that Professor Rasmusen's biases have no adverse effects on students, I also would be deeply surprised if they ever have.
***
A Bloomington Herald Times letter:
I am appalled at the grading restrictions Indiana University has imposed on Professor Rasmussen. While I disagree with his views, I thought universities were supposed to be bastions of free speech. I taught around 150 MBA students for several years with Eric in the MBA core. As an integrated exercise we sat each year through 30-35 30-minute presentations on an analysis of an industry (such as airlines.) Then we would discuss the quality of each student's presentation. Eric obviously knew the race and gender (although gender may be a construct) of each presenter. Never did I detect a smidgen of bias in Eric's comments or grades. The five faculty members in the team that I led would meet after the industry presentations and assign a single grade for the semester to each student. Eric was a model of impartiality. I am not endorsing Eric's views, but where does this end? If Rashida Talib taught a course and had an Orthodox Jew in the class should not the student have a right not to take the class or request special grading? If liberals want to know why Trump won in 2016, here is an example of why.
Wayne Winston
***
Hi, Professor Rasmusen.
I am sorry to hear about the recent controversy that befell you. I wanted to let you know that, from the bottom of my heart, I feel your belief in equality and impartiality is among the strongest I've ever personally known. Hang in there!
***
They were following Alinsky's rule No 13: ""Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it."
Be prepared. It is tough but the truth always prevails in the end.
***
Dear Eric,
I have not seen you since [the 1980s], but I have read some of your fine work over the years.
This note is to say I support completely your right to free speech. Your school and university are treating you very badly. Shame on all those persecuting you.
I am a practicing Catholic. My older child is a trans man and I love him dearly. From what I can tell, you do not have hate in your heart. But whatever is in your heart, enemies are persecuting you over speech, and that is wrong.
Updates Section
- 12.14. I have heard rumors that the Provost has received death threats. The rumor did not say who was making the threats, but I suppose they are from leftwing radicals displeased that she has not fired me. Such people should realize that the Provost is not legally able to fire a professor just because he says something she doesn't like. Indeed, she has tread on the verge of legality even by condemning one of her professors with false accusations. These thugs should also realize that it does their cause no good to threaten violence or engage in it.
- 12.14. Leftwing violence is common on campuses, and rarely punished. "Semester of violence: physical attacks on conservative college students keep piling up" The College Fix, Dec. 13.
- 12.12. My home was one of five places vandalized a couple of nights ago (the anti-abortion Women's Care Center, and the homes of myself, the editor of the Bloomingtonian, Schooner Creek Farm's Sarah Dye, and Schooner Farm's online defender Joshua Graham). Fake blood was dripped on our front walkway at 1 a.m. and a balloonful left on the grass, with no indication of what it was supposed to mean. The other cases were equally mysterious. See the
Bloomingtonian.
- 12.12. The Dean sat in on my class yesterday, with my consent. It was a good class, I think. (The Chairman sat in on the last class of the semester.)
- 12.12. I seem to be pretty much forgotten in the news now, and there are only dribbles on Twitter.
- 12.12. Things are dying down. Good! Twitter replies have been few for several days. My email encouragements (and the few insults) have been dwindling. The Dean did ask me to let my G406 class be videotaped. I agreed, though we then disputed as to whether I would be able to have a copy.
- 12.02.
Instapundit mention, with 100 or so favorable comments.
- 11.29. I finally have had time to look at stuff on the web. It really is amazing how many outright lies are told about me. The first thing to tell anyone about this controversy is not to believe *any* of the anti-Rasmusen forces. From the Washington Post to the Provost of Indiana University, they lie. Look at original sources. This will also help you sort the trash secondary sources from the reliable ones.
- 11.29. You can buy a license to use a photo of bridge graffiti insulting me for $499, or $175 for the small version, suitable for the web I guess. He's got a better camera than my phone, but I like my version better, since it has me and my son on the bridge too. My wife thought it wouldn't be proper for me to try selling it for $498, though. But anyone with a camera who lives near controversy: if you hustle a little, you can make some money. An interesting market.
- 11.27. President Mitch Daniels of Purdue, is bigger game than me, so maybe "Daniels: Leading African American scholar 'one of the rarest creatures in America'" will divert the the wokefolk.
- 11.27. I was at meeting of the Alliance of Distinguished Professors yesterday, and after 45 minutes of discussion while I was out of the room, they decided not to make any statement about my case.
- 11.25. Josh Blackman has written a post at Volokh Conspiracy on the legal situation. It seems that in a similar case where a professor's courses were made optional, etc., he sued, won, and then won on appeal, on First Amendment grounds, it being a public university like IU. I haven't objected to IU's doing that sort of thing (just to the public condemnations), and I'm being very cooperative so far (don't expect that to last with likely new demands). The Provost should have been worried that I'd object, since I'd legally be in the right--- another sign that she needs to go.
- 11.25.
A long, beautifully written, supportive essay by my pastor on Warhorn Media.
- 11.25. Brian Leiter has a blogpost in Leiter Reports saying the Provost responded badly.
URL: http://rasmusen.org/special/2019kerfuffle. Comments: Erasmuse61@gmail.com.