TheParagon-Education

Auniversity professor is set to launch a "faculty for common sense" at a rival institution after being "cancelled" by his students.

Eric Kaufmann, former head of Politics at Birkbeck, University of London is creating a Centre for Heterodox Social Science which focuses on academic free speech at the University of Buckingham.

The centre for research will investigate woke attitudes and controversial subjects such as trans rights and critical race theory.

It follows what Kaufmann claims was a five-year campaign to drive him out of Birkbeck for his right-leaning views.

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Following a 20-year career, he quit the university at the end of August.

"I was cancelled by 1,000 cuts. Academia should be about the advancement of knowledge but you're not allowed to advance theories which go against the progressive narrative," he told the Daily Mail.

"If you have a different viewpoint, you're in the crosshairs.

"The climate at British universities has worsened because morally absolutist, often younger, illiberal progressives are using pressure, public reputational attacks and social media to limit academic freedom.

The professor claims he has faced social media abuse and three internal inquiries following several hostile student course evaluations.

An open letter to the Master of Birkbeck also condemned him and called for him to be fired "for his defence of white identity politics and his countless attacks against Black Lives Matter and other activists and scholars of colour on social media".

Professor Kaufmann's first course, "Woke: the Origins, Dynamics and Implications of an Elite Ideology," will be launched in January.

Isn't it strange that we only get a small editorial here on the subject of 'Woke'. perhaps it is down to the political persuasions that could be limiting the free speech. We must be thankful at least that there is a mention at all.

I noticed also, the following sub-headlines that accompanied this piece and really highlights the problem we are having in society today....:

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A professor has quit his job at a London university to set up a "free speech" course at another institution.

Eric Kaufmann, a longtime professor at Birkbeck, University of London, announced today that he will leave his post as a political academic in January 2024 after a 20-year career at the university.

The self-confessed liberal conservative said he plans to launch a "low-cost" online course on the study of "woke" ideology.

He took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and called for people to sign up as he plans to launch a "war on woke" with his course at the UK's "only free speech university".

Dr Kaufmann said the decision came as he was "repelled by cancel culture", but Birkbeck has claimed he left of his own request as "part of a restructure".

Posting on X, Professor Kaufmann said he was leaving his "full University of London professorship" to "launch a new low-cost online course open to the public on Woke: the Origins, Dynamics and Implications of an Elite Ideology".

He added: "Why leave? My university's uncertain financial position played a role, but I was also repelled by cancel culture and attracted by the chance to help build Buckingham as the only 'free speech university' in Britain."

He continued: "Progressive conformity and cancel culture are distorting the teaching and research mission of universities.
"Between the extremely controversial and the progressive-controlled monoculture of academia is a vast and growing zone of unspoken truth."

The professor said his master's course - due to launch for the 2024-2025 academic season - aims to "teach and research on topics, or from perspectives, that are difficult or hazardous in the contemporary university".

He said he aims to "restore truth, rebalance academia and help it regain the trust it is losing among many".

He concluded: "The aim is to promote objectivity and viewpoint diversity, not indoctrination or narrow limits on the pursuit of knowledge."

Birkbeck University said in a statement following his post that the institution is "committed to free, robust, and open debate among all members of the College community" and has policies to ensure freedom of speech.