Mastodawn

Florida Woman Jul 25, 2023

Carl T. Bergstrom

An opioid expert from Texas A&M gave a guest lecture and mentioned that Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick’s policies were costing lives. Within hours, Patrick’s office got her suspended, formally censured, and nearly fired.

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/25/texas-a-m-professor-opioids-dan-patrick/

Texas A&M suspended professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in lecture

The professor, an expert on the opioids crisis, was placed on paid administrative leave and investigated, raising questions about the extent of political interference in higher education, particularly in health-related matters.

The Texas Tribune

Carl T. Bergstrom Jul 25, 2023

“Shortly after [Texas A&M Chancellor] Sharp sent a text directly to the lieutenant governor: “Joy Alonzo has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation re firing her. shud [sic] be finished by end of week”

Carl T. Bergstrom Jul 25, 2023

If Dan Patrick is.so desperate for something to do with his time, here's a place he could start.

https://www.tpr.org/criminal-justice/2023-07-20/texas-charges-prisoners-50-more-for-water-for-as-heat-wave-continues

Texas charges prisoners 50% more for water as heat wave continues

The price rise hit prisoners seeking bottled water as temperatures eclipse the 100 degree mark in unairconditioned facilities. The state vendor asked to raise the price and two state agencies signed off.

TPR

Kathleen Fuller, PhD Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom Nordic countries don't want to extradite prisoners to the US because of our inhumane prisons.

Weasel Jul 26, 2023

@ct_bergstrom
There should be no profit in human misery.

flere-imsaho 🇺🇦Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom someone should tell the other students who attended the lecture that they have a snitch problem.

Frank D’Elia Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom Republican cancel culture in action.

Jon Massey Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom awful for an academic of any grade, but amazing that you can make it all the way to Prof and not have any apparent freedom

Ron DeSantis's BDE Jul 25, 2023

@jonny_boy27 @ct_bergstrom
She's a clinical assistant professor. She doesn't have tenure yet.

The Texas gov't is choosing a target that it can punch down on.

Ralf Stubner Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom The real #CancelCulture. So frustrating!

DrArtAnalytics Jul 26, 2023

@rstub
I came here thinking this!
@ct_bergstrom

elle mundy Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom huh. i thought we had a little something called the first amendment in this country

Peter Principle Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom As in any partisan dictatorship, Texas public academicians need to understand that criticizing leading party cadres is dangerous.

Raphael Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom Free speech absolutists in action.

Tony Hill Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom How dare she ... telling the truth.
Texas is becoming more fascist with every day.

Kerri Levine Jul 25, 2023

A PAC aligned with Ken Paxton gave Dan Patrick $3 million just after the vote to impeach him was cast.

The PAC is threatening any Repubs who vote to impeach with a primary challenge.

Dan Patrick will be overseeing the impeachment of Ken Paxton but I'm sure he will be completely impartial...

Kevin Fox Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom (formally censured, not formally censored)

Ryan Singel Jul 25, 2023

Actually both are accurate

Kevin Fox Jul 25, 2023

@ryansingel @ct_bergstrom Kind of. The censoring, though extant, wasn’t formal.

Alex UsedToGoToVenice Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom but remember it's the woke students who are the *real* problem for free speech on campus

Asiny Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom Sounds like Texas,

@ct_bergstrom
Free speech is great until you speak about the wrong thing 🤔

Amanda Hugankiss Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom But….freedom?

Brad Patrick Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom Free speech, they screech. Special snowflake: Daddy, the professor said something mean about you! DP is an atrocious politician. You’re damn right his policies kill people. Academic freedom does not exist in Texas.

Cool Xenu Jul 25, 2023

#Texas, where your freedom of speech goes to die.

#America #Republican #GOP #uspoli #SomethingIsWrongWithAmericans

alfson Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom seems related: https://mastodon.social/@jayrosen_nyu/110753328447887474

MaybeMyMonkeys Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom surprised Patrick’s Gestapo didn’t pick her up.

Space Wrangler Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom
Reason #3678 that academics should avoid Texas like the Biblical plagues its leaders keep causing.

anneguisinherba Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom It is time for educators to wake up and smell the authoritarian coffee. This is just one small step from the gulag. Leave Texas. Leave Florida. As bad as the academic job market is, censorship at the service of politics is worse. I truly believe that in a more honest venue these profs can find a soft landing and make the difference they deserve.

GregVR Jul 25, 2023

Carl T. Bergstrom Jul 25, 2023

Vincarsi Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom a major barrier to positive change, are the non-experts who are offended when told they are the ones who must make the change, because they have far more power than the experts who know what needs to be done.
Might does not make right, and smart people are starting to realize that letting the blowhards win is going to end up worse for everyone

Ron DeSantis's BDE Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom
Looks like the basis for a really good lawsuit.

MJ Muse Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom just like fascist Ron DeathSantis wants to do to the woke military..ban free speech

We Can Be Gyros Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom I would not send a child to higher education in TX. Oppressing educators for ego? Seems like he's gotten away with this before.

Nicole Parsons Jul 25, 2023

Lt Gov Dan Patrick launched a massive pandemic disinformation campaign at the behest of Republican billionaire donors.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/03/dan-patrick-coronavirus-grandparents
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/older-people-would-rather-die-than-let-covid-19-lockdown-harm-us-economy-texas-official-dan-patrick

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senicide

Over 1.17 million Americans died because Dr. Drew, Dr. Phil, and Dr. Oz were paid to lie about covid.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelsandler/2020/04/17/heres-why-dr-phil-dr-oz-and-dr-drew-were-slammed-for-coronavirus-remarks/
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/17/media/doctors-oz-phil-drew-fox-news/index.html
https://www.thedailybeast.com/celeb-docs-dr-drew-dr-oz-and-dr-phil-failed-us-during-covid-lets-leave-them-in-2020-where-they-belong

The same donors fund an indicted AG Paxton
https://www.fox7austin.com/news/pro-paxton-group-gives-3-million-to-impeachment-trial-judge-dan-patrick

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/group-supporting-impeached-ag-gives-presiding-officer-3-million-ahead-of-trial/3298686/

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/23/texas-inauguration-2023-donors/

Texas Lt. Governor: Old People Should Volunteer to Die to Save the Economy

According to Dan Patrick “lots of grandparents” are willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause.

Vanity Fair

TransitBiker Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom “freedom”

Barry C Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom 😲

Lotus Blossom Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom I wish that those who supported or voted for this guy would recognize that this lecturer is advocating for changes that would improve society and their lives, even if they disagree with the policies. But alas we now live in this strange culture in which party trumps all, even the general welfare. Texas looks more like Hungary every day.

Erich Schulz Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom developments in America are frightening.

EarthOne Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom What a rotten school. I remember when it was the pride of schools of higher learning to protect independent scholars from forced political positions.

Guess #Texas #A&M no longer qualifies as "higher learning," just #fascist propaganda.

Mori Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom How dare she say the truth!

John Siebenthaler Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom and Florida's watching...

Midwest Bob Jul 25, 2023

@ct_bergstrom I have not noticed that anyone in the Texas government, other than Beto O, are interested in truth.

Bill Howard Jul 26, 2023

@ct_bergstrom Abuse of authority. We are being tested.

72mz Jul 26, 2023

@ct_bergstrom
Free speech in texas.