What’s Wrong with Our Universities? - Steven Pinker Ep. 08

Is diversity simply a box-checking exercise, or does it hold a deeper significance in academia? Today we're joined by Azim Shariff, Ph.D, a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, to explore the complex landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in higher education. In this conversation, John Tomasi and Azim delve deep into the multifaceted approach to DEI, discussing the pressing need to rethink and clarify the rationale behind diversity in faculty hiring and beyond.Azim provides a fresh perspective on managing and harnessing diversity's paradox of fostering innovation and coordination challenges. Whether it's the impact of role models on educational outcomes or the intricate balance between meritocracy and social justice motives, this episode promises to unfold the nuanced dynamics of DEI efforts within academic institutions.Get ready to challenge your understanding of diversity in academia as we navigate through the meritocratic, social justice, and instrumental values driving DEI initiatives. In This Episode:Rethinking DEI in academiaBalancing truth-seeking and social justiceThe challenges of interdisciplinary research diversityHow role models impact education outcomesClarifying the motives behind faculty diversity Follow Azim on X here: https://twitter.com/azimshariff About Azim:Azim Shariff is a Professor and Canada 150 Research Chair at the University of British Columbia, where he directs the Centre for Applied Moral Psychology. His research on morality, religion, politics, and technology regularly receives global media coverage and has appeared in top academic journals such as Science, Nature, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He has written about this work for The New York Times and Scientific American and has spoken at TED, the Aspen Ideas Festival, and the World Science Festival in New York. He is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. He teaches a free Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) on The Science of Religion for the public through edX. Professor Shariff earned his doctorate from UBC in 2010 and returned as a faculty member in 2018. Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

Discover how Ivy League schools might be shortchanging taxpayers to the tune of billions! Today, we're peeling back the layers of an issue that hits our wallets and our values: the billion-dollar taxpayer support of Ivy League institutions.Host John Tomasi is joined by Adam Andrzejewski, founder and CEO of "Open the Books," an advocate for transparency in public finances. Adam brings to light a staggering reality: Over a recent five-year period, Ivy League schools amassed fortunes at the taxpayers' expense—a whopping $45 billion tab that's got some scratching their heads and policy-makers wielding the legislative pen.Adam is not afraid to discuss how taxpayers are burdened with the cost of what seems more like a federal contractor than an educator. We discuss questions of accountability, such as whether universities should receive federal money without oversight and whether state-level standards boards could improve the management of public funds.Join us on Heterodox Out Loud as we explore the billion-dollar taxpayer tab for Ivy League schools and its implications for the future of higher education, government oversight, and our society's appreciation for knowledge.In This Episode:Elite schools' heavy reliance on taxpayer fundsProposed tax reforms for excessive university endowmentsThe debate over universities' federal funding accountabilityTension in bipartisan university public policyThe Rising costs and transparency in higher education Follow Adam on X here: https://x.com/everydimeonlineFollow OpenTheBooks on X here: https:/x.com/open_the_books About Adam:Adam Andrzejewski is the CEO/founder of OpenTheBooks.com. Before dedicating his life to public service, Adam co-founded HomePages Directories, a $20 million publishing company (1997-2007). His works have been featured on the BBC, Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight, C-SPAN, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, FOX News, CNN, National Public Radio (NPR), Forbes, Newsweek, and many other national media.Adam founded the transparency website, www.openthebooks.com, and launched it by posting the salaries and pensions of all 1 million Illinois public employees (2011). Today, OpenTheBooks.com is the largest private repository of U.S. public-sector spending. Mission: post "every dime, online, in real time." In 2022, OpenTheBooks.com captured nearly all public expenditures in the country, including nearly all disclosed federal government spending; 50 of 50 state checkbooks; and 25 million public employee salary and pension records from 50,000 public bodies across America.In their oversight report, published in March 2017, titled Ivy League, Inc., OpenTheBooks uncovered $41 billion taxpayer subsidies, tax-breaks and federal payments into the Ivy League colleges (FY2010–2015). Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

What really happened in 1945? Explore how students grapple with historical events and figures to understand their distinctness and uniqueness. In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, host John Tomasi interviews Professor Mark Carnes of Barnard College. Professor Carnes talks about his innovative approach to teaching history, which he calls "reacting to the past." He explains how this method challenges traditional teaching by immersing students in historical contexts through Live-Action Role-Playing (LARP).Professor Carnes shares the components of this approach, its impact on students' engagement, the complexity of character roles, and the unique insights it generates. By making history come alive in a way that traditional teaching methods may not achieve, "reacting to the past" provides a unique and engaging way to learn about the past.In This Episode:Teaching history through role-playing gamesEngaging students in historical complexitiesAdoption of live-action role-playing gamesConnecting with historical figures through gameplayThe transformative power of immersive learningFind out more about The Reacting Consortium here: https://reactingconsortium.org/Find out more about Mark here: https://barnard.edu/profiles/mark-c-carnes About Mark Carnes:Mark Carnes received his B.A. from Harvard and Ph.D. from Columbia. For the first half of his career, he was a very conventional historian, General Editor of the 17-million-word American National Biography (Oxford), and author or editor of dozens of books on American history. But around the turn of the century, he pioneered the Reacting to the Past program, where students played complex games set in the past, their roles informed by important texts. He has co-authored six games in the Reacting series, published by the University of North Carolina Press, and is the author of Minds on Fire: How Role-Immersion Games Transform College (Harvard, 2014).  He teaches at Barnard College, Columbia University. Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

With the changing 'diploma divide,' what does the new correlation between education and party affiliation tell us about American politics? Today, we're joined by the insightful Diana Mutz as we explore the intriguing shifts within the ideological landscape of higher education and its broader implications for American politics.Universities, once beacons of diverse thought, appear now as battlegrounds of ideological conformity. In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, we explore the complexities surrounding political tolerance and the evolving correlation between education and party affiliation, known as the "diploma divide." Join us as we seek to understand the consequences of democratic dialogue and free speech.In This Episode:The Ideological Shift in University FacultiesThe Impact of Academic Environments on StudentsWorkplace Politics and Social HomogeneityPolitical Polarization and the Public SphereEducation's Role in Political Tolerance and ExpressionChanging Support for Free Expression Among Political GroupsThe Relationship Between Higher Education and Political Leadership"The Diploma Divide" and Its Implications About Diana:Diana C. Mutz, Ph.D. holds the Samuel A. Stouffer Chair in Political Science and Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, where she also serves as Director of the Institute for the Study of Citizens and Politics. She is also a Faculty Fellow at the HxA Center for Academic Pluralism (2023-24). Mutz has published many books and articles on public opinion, political psychology, and the media, focusing on how people are exposed to differing political perspectives. In 2021, she was inducted to the National Academy of Sciences. Research Topic: Hearing the Other Side in an Era of Mass PolarizationReach out to Diana here: https://live-sas-www-polisci.pantheon.sas.upenn.edu/people/standing-faculty/diana-mutz Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

Can we restore the fractured trust in science and steer public health back to its noble roots? Welcome to Heterodox Out Loud. Today, we are joined by Sandro Galea, M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H, who provides insights that challenge us to confront the post-pandemic skepticism clouding the scientific community. In this episode, we will delve into a conversation that dissects how the clamor of political bias and social media frenzy has overshadowed the value of nuanced scientific discourse during COVID-19. Dr. Galea, through his book "Within Reason: A Liberal Public Health for an Illiberal Time," calls for a return to empirical rigor and liberal principles in public health, principles that are currently at odds with our polarized world. As we unravel the tense interplay between public health mandates and individual liberties, Dr. Galea advocates for radical transparency that acknowledges the trade-offs and complexities inherent in our decisions. Today, we challenge you to reevaluate what it means to trust science and ask: how do we rebuild a foundation of credibility in the face of fear and division? IN THIS EPISODE:• Language and Ideology in Dialogue• Public Health's Role and Influence• Challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic• Liberalism and Public Health Philosophy• Crisis of Trust and Communication• Public Health Reformation ABOUT DR. SANDRO GALEA:Dr. Sandro Galea is a renowned physician and epidemiologist who currently serves as the Dean of the Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Galea has made significant contributions to social sciences with over a thousand scientific publications, 24 books, and numerous awards. He is highly respected for his pioneering work on social determinants of health, mental health, and the impact of mass traumas, including September 11th and Hurricane Katrina. His research, often featured in top media outlets, continues to shape global public health conversations. Follow Sandro on:X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/sandrogaleaLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrogalea/ Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF Listen to the podcast on:Apple - https://apple.co/3PZzplDSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3S51ueeAmazon: https://amzn.to/3ZXQnFLi-Heart - https://bit.ly/3M69qYATune-In - https://bit.ly/3S5oBVRPandora - https://bit.ly/46AaLze 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

Today, John Tomasi and award-winning journalist Jamie Kalven explore the complexities surrounding the idea of institutional neutrality within universities and its implications for promoting intellectual freedom and robust argument. They delve into the Kalven Report of 1967 from the University of Chicago. This landmark report sought to balance the preservation of academic freedom with the responsibility to uphold the university's mission and values. The report's nuanced approach is examined in the context of Harry Kalven’s legacy, a key figure in First Amendment jurisprudence. They also analyze the report's implications for addressing contentious political issues within academia.Additionally, they discuss the gray areas and exceptions within the Kalven Report, which are brought about by the proactive engagement of students seeking to understand and promote the principles of academic inquiry. Emphasizing the importance of contextual application and disciplined discourse, they examine the university as a space for dangerous thinking and mutual engagement, aiming to promote deeper understanding amidst diverse perspectives.Follow Jamie on:X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/jamiekalven Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNFListen to the podcast on:Apple - https://apple.co/3PZzplDSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3S51ueeAmazon: https://amzn.to/3ZXQnFLi-Heart - https://bit.ly/3M69qYATune-In - https://bit.ly/3S5oBVRPandora - https://bit.ly/46AaLze🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud GUEST BIO:Jamie Kalven is an American journalist, author, human rights activist, and community organizer based in Chicago, Illinois. He is the founder of the Invisible Institute, a non-profit journalism organization based in Chicago. Jamie Kalven is the son of 1967 Kalven Report Committee Chairman Harry Kalven. Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

Are our higher education institutions still nurturing true intellectual diversity? Our guest today is Steven Pinker, a cognitive scientist at Harvard, and today, we'll be exploring the growing concerns within higher ed that institutions are turning into echo chambers, stifling dissent and censoring certain perspectives. In this thought-provoking episode, we'll be discovering the challenges to academic freedom in the era of cancel culture. We'll explore how questioning a consensus can now come at a cost, impacting the pursuit of truth within academic institutions. We'll also uncover the story of the Council for Academic Freedom at Harvard, which was formed to combat these challenges. Join us as we delve into policies protecting free speech, and the vital role of civil discourse in the academic community. Together, we'll navigate the complex landscape of universities, grappling with the delicate balance between common knowledge and the suppression of dissenting opinions. Follow Steven on:X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/sapinker Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud About Steven:Steven Pinker is an experimental psychologist who conducts research in visual cognition, psycholinguistics, and social relations. He grew up in Montreal and earned his BA from McGill and his PhD from Harvard. Currently Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard, he has also taught at Stanford and MIT. He has won numerous prizes for his research, his teaching, and his books, including The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, The Blank Slate, The Better Angels of Our Nature, The Sense of Style, and Enlightenment Now. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, a Humanist of the Year, a recipient of nine honorary doctorates, and one of Foreign Policy’s “World’s Top 100 Public Intellectuals” and Time’s “100 Most Influential People in the World Today.” He was Chair of the Usage Panel of the American Heritage Dictionary and writes frequently for the New York Times, the Guardian, and other publications. His twelfth book, published in 2021, is called Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters. Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, John Tomasi speaks with Alexandra Lysova. Alexandra Lysova, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver/Burnaby, Canada. Her research career, spanning more than 20 years, focuses on intimate partner violence, including violence against men, women and children. Having experienced limitations on freedoms in Russia, where Alexandra grew up, she has developed a heightened appreciation for democratic values and, at the same time, has become sensitive to limitations on academic freedom and freedom of expression in countries, such as Canada and the US. Lysova has received the 2023 Leadership Award from Heterodox Academy for her persistent efforts to protect academic freedom, and she was also the recipient of the 2022 Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy.Heterodox Out Loud Heterodox Out Loud with John Tomasi is a biweekly podcast featuring conversations with people across the academy and beyond. Listen to insightful, thought-provoking episodes from the HxA community by adding our podcast to your lineup.Follow Alexandra on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/lysovaalexandra?lang=enFollow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNFListen to the podcast on:Apple - https://apple.co/3PZzplDSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3S51ueeAmazon: https://amzn.to/3ZXQnFLGoogle: https://bit.ly/46oaT4Ai-Heart - https://bit.ly/3M69qYATune-In - https://bit.ly/3S5oBVRPandora - https://bit.ly/46AaLzeLinktree link: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, John Tomasi speaks with Musa Al-Gharbi. Musa is a Paul F. Lazarsfeld Fellow in Sociology. His research explores how we think about, talk about, and produce knowledge about social phenomena including race, inequality, social movements, extremism, policing, national security, foreign policy and domestic U.S. political contests.In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, we talk about ideological differences in society, bridging the ideological divide in America.Heterodox Out Loud  Heterodox Out Loud with John Tomasi is a biweekly podcast featuring conversations with people across the academy and beyond. Listen to insightful, thought-provoking episodes from the HxA community by adding our podcast to your lineup. Follow Musa Al-Gharbi  on:Twitter: t.ly/Jjdhc Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF Listen to the podcast on:Apple - https://apple.co/3PZzplDSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3S51ueeAmazon: https://amzn.to/3ZXQnFLGoogle: https://bit.ly/46oaT4Ai-Heart - https://bit.ly/3M69qYATune-In - https://bit.ly/3S5oBVRPandora - https://bit.ly/46AaLzeLinktree link: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, John Tomasi speaks with Greg Lukianoff, an attorney, New York Times best-selling author, and the President and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). He is the author of Unlearning Liberty: Campus Censorship and the End of American Debate, Freedom From Speech, and FIRE’s Guide to Free Speech on Campus. Most recently, he co-authored The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure with Jonathan Haidt. We talk with Greg about cancel culture, free speech on college campuses and what universities can do to protect free speech.Heterodox Out Loud Heterodox Out Loud with John Tomasi is a biweekly podcast featuring conversations with people across the academy and beyond. Listen to insightful, thought-provoking episodes from the HxA community by adding our podcast to your lineup.Follow Greg Luikianoff and FIRE  on:Website: https://www.thefire.orgTwitter: https://twitter.com/TheFIREorgYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thefireorgFacebook: https://web.facebook.com/thefireorg?_rdc=1&_rdrInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefireorg Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF Listen to the podcast on:Apple - https://apple.co/3PZzplDSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3S51ueeAmazon: https://amzn.to/3ZXQnFLGoogle: https://bit.ly/46oaT4Ai-Heart - https://bit.ly/3M69qYATune-In - https://bit.ly/3S5oBVRPandora - https://bit.ly/46AaLzeLinktree link: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud