The recent publication of a report on academic freedom has obviously generated immense interest from the Observatory of University Ethics, especially since it makes extensive reference to our Observatory, one of whose missions is
Professor Albert Doja critically analyzes a thesis devoted to the status of "burrnesh" ("sworn virgin", but also "strong woman" in Albanian). An article which illustrates the challenges of scientific rigor, historicization of concepts and vigilance in the face of simplifications or "exoticization" which risk hindering the understanding and support of struggles for equality.
Pierre Rochette takes a harsh look back at his 44-year career, denouncing the rise of a cumbersome and absurd bureaucracy that seriously hinders scientific research, academic freedom and the functioning of higher education in France.
French public universities, which enroll more than 70% of higher education students, fulfill an essential mission with far fewer resources than the private sector, while relying heavily on state funding. Yet, they suffer from a disconnect between research and teaching, low professionalization, and a lack of institutional recognition, undermining their central role in educating young people and upholding the promise of republican equality.
The collective work Critique de la raison universitaire, edited by Arnaud Bernadet, explores how certain identity-based, managerial, and activist ideologies undermine the foundations of science, reason, and academic freedom within Western universities, particularly in Canada and France. Through contributions from various academics, the book denounces the erosion of intellectual pluralism caused by censorship, EDI policies, the indigenization of knowledge, and the transformation of law into an instrument of activism, calling for a rigorous defense of academic autonomy as a requirement of truth.
Fabrice Balanche, a researcher at Lyon 2 University, was prevented from giving a lecture by masked activists claiming to be pro-Palestinian. The University Ethics Observatory responded to this climate of intimidation in a statement demanding sanctions and strong commitment from university and government authorities.
Bergeaud-Blackler responds to the arguments put forward by Karim Souanef and Julien Talpin (Mediapart), who claim that the cancellation of his lecture at the University of Lille was based on scientific and ethical reasons, not political ones. They present the case from a political angle while claiming the opposite, omitting certain elements and biasing their analysis.
There was the first medalist for the refugee team, Cameroonian boxer Cindy Ngamba; the selfie of the South and North Korean table tennis players, united on the podium; and the Australian Rachel Gunn, who distinguished herself with a break dance performance that earned her no points but rather a flood of jeers. It is very likely that she consciously provoked this fiasco to put herself forward in the many media outlets that reported on it.
There is a lot of talk these days about "academic freedom", but it is mostly to say stupid things, which a little common sense and knowledge of the issue should be enough to dispel.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Emmanuelle Hénin about the publication of the proceedings of the conference After deconstruction, the university challenged by ideologies, published by Odile Jacob.