Free the Inquiry | Heterodox Academy | Substack

When University Classrooms Become Political Battlegrounds

A recent case in Texas puts myriad academic freedom threats on display

Sep 24 • Nicole Barbaro Simovski, Ph.D.

Recent posts

Dangerous Ideas Needed

Campus dialogues can’t duck the divisive

Sep 23 • Michael Regnier

The Shooter’s Veto

We must help people understand how unacceptable the violent suppression of speech is.

Sep 11 • Alice Dreger

When Authoritarianism Meets the Academy

Sarah McLaughlin, Senior Scholar at FIRE, explains how university relations with authoritarian countries can chill free expression on U.S. campuses.

Sep 11 • Nicole Barbaro Simovski, Ph.D.

Why Heterodoxy Needs Deaf America

Brendan Stern expands on his inquisitive insights.

Sep 8 • Alice Dreger

Looking Ahead Together: A New Academic Year with HxA

We share HxA President John Tomasi's September 2025 message to members.

Sep 3 • John Tomasi

Unexpected Takes on Class in Higher Ed

Academia’s divisions into the haves and have-nots.

Sep 2 • Alice Dreger

Meet the heterodox president of a prison-based liberal arts college.

HxA member Jody Lewen leads an institution serving a unique student population.

Aug 27 • Alice Dreger

Classroom Speech Continues to Be Restrained and Constrained

There’s still work to be done on freeing the inquiry.

Aug 26 • Erin Shaw

Mountain West HxA Gathering Elicits Diverse Views on Promoting Viewpoint Diversity

What is a university for? That was the organizing question.

Aug 22 • Alice Dreger

This game-changing AI tool helps students learn constructive disagreement.

Seriously, this is a big deal.

Aug 16 • Alice Dreger

Attack data show the vibe shift has officially arrived on campus.

The censorious left has handed the baton to the censorious right.

Aug 14 • Shiri Spitz Siddiqi

New HxA Study of 10,000 Faculty Job Ads Shows DEI Statement Prevalence

One in five faculty job ads required some kind of DEI statement in Fall 2024.

Aug 13 • Erin Shaw