In the 1990s it was corporate "slap" suits. Now, the newest tactic is using federal and state FOIA requests to go after such things as faculty emails in order to chill and/or punish dissent at public universities:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/in-michigan-conservative-think-tank-seeks-labor-prof-emails.php
http://www.metafilter.com/101873/FOIA-request-for-WI-Professor-emails
This initiative, driven mostly by right-wing zealots, goes hand-in-hand with concerted efforts by conservative governors to strip public-university profs of their collective bargaining rights.
First Amendment rights and academic freedom be damned, I guess. Add in the anemic nature of legislative funding for most public university systems in this straightened times, and you have a perfect storm. Having built the best public university system in the world, we Americans --- or many of us on the right, at least --- seem determined to tear it down.
Don't get me wrong: I'm all for improved professorial productivity... reduced tuition and loans for students... realistic pension plans for public employees. But why throw out this baby with the bath water? Only fanatics do that sort of thing.
How about a bit of balance here?
Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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