Author Profile

Geoffrey Vaughan

Geoffrey M. Vaughan is an associate professor of political science at Assumption College, where he directs the Fortin and Gonthier Western Civilization Program. He has written on Thomas Hobbes and on the topic of political education and is currently working on a book about becoming an American citizen. Vaughan has a D.Phil. from Oxford University.

Articles by Geoffrey Vaughan

Shouts and Protests on Campus Are Signs of a More Pernicious Problem

Jun 23, 2017 · Geoffrey Vaughan · 1 Comment

Vice President Mike Pence spoke to the graduating class of Notre Dame, drawing attention to the loss of free speech on American campuses. He denounced the “noxious wave that seems to be rushing over much of academia.” The problem is that this wave is coming from within academia, not “rushing over” it as if from … Continue reading “Shouts and Protests on Campus Are Signs of a More Pernicious Problem”

In Defense of Academic Publishing

May 24, 2009 · Geoffrey Vaughan · No Comments

A political scientist argues that liberal arts faculty should be role models, and that means conducting research.

Defining Faculty Roles: Scholarship Only, Activism on Your Own Time Apr 20, 2018
One of higher education’s enduring questions is about the proper role of faculty. The debate is growing hotter, as increased activism by some faculty is causing pushback from many quarters. A week ago, the Martin Center published an article by Fabio Rojas in which he described the proper role of a faculty member as one … Continue reading “Defining Faculty Roles: Scholarship Only, Activism on Your Own Time”
The Dictatorship of the Offended Apr 18, 2018
The college campus is increasingly a focal point for shaping social norms, largely a result of rising college attendance; only five percent of the generation that came of age in the 1930s were college graduates, as opposed to roughly a third of millennials. Sometimes, however, this shaping is not always an improvement. In recent years, … Continue reading “The Dictatorship of the Offended”
Duke Divinity School’s Race to the Bottom Apr 16, 2018
The chickens have come home to roost at Duke’s Divinity School. Protesting students claim the school is insufficiently diverse. More needs to be done, they say, to combat racism, transphobia, homophobia, and associated evils. All this despite a campaign by the administration to achieve these very aims in the course of which a distinguished faculty … Continue reading “Duke Divinity School’s Race to the Bottom”

Why Can’t This Public University Stay Out of Court? Apr 4, 2018
Located just north of Atlanta, Kennesaw State University is a school enrolling some 35,000 students. Arguably, the most noteworthy thing about it is the fact that its officials keep making decisions that land it in court. In February, the university’s “speech zone” policy came under attack. A student group, Ratio Christi, wanted to put up … Continue reading “Why Can’t This Public University Stay Out of Court?”
University Foundations Enable Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Mar 26, 2018
By now, most Americans are aware of the widespread waste and decadence at many private and public universities. From lazy rivers to exorbitant chancellors’ salaries, examples abound. But those well-publicized cases, problematic as they are, can be easily addressed by parents and students who pay tuition and by legislators who control the purse strings. However, … Continue reading “University Foundations Enable Waste, Fraud, and Abuse”
The Quizzical Case of UNC’s “Buy Local” Resolution Mar 19, 2018
State governments have long favored giving preferential treatment to businesses in the state. North Carolina, for instance, has a general policy that favors local companies for state purchases. Now, in a perplexing move, University of North Carolina system is exploring a similar measure. At a December meeting, the Board of Governors discussed a “buy local” … Continue reading “The Quizzical Case of UNC’s “Buy Local” Resolution”

Defining Faculty Roles: Scholarship Only, Activism on Your Own Time Apr 20, 2018
One of higher education’s enduring questions is about the proper role of faculty. The debate is growing hotter, as increased activism by some faculty is causing pushback from many quarters. A week ago, the Martin Center published an article by Fabio Rojas in which he described the proper role of a faculty member as one … Continue reading “Defining Faculty Roles: Scholarship Only, Activism on Your Own Time”
The Dictatorship of the Offended Apr 18, 2018
The college campus is increasingly a focal point for shaping social norms, largely a result of rising college attendance; only five percent of the generation that came of age in the 1930s were college graduates, as opposed to roughly a third of millennials. Sometimes, however, this shaping is not always an improvement. In recent years, … Continue reading “The Dictatorship of the Offended”
Duke Divinity School’s Race to the Bottom Apr 16, 2018
The chickens have come home to roost at Duke’s Divinity School. Protesting students claim the school is insufficiently diverse. More needs to be done, they say, to combat racism, transphobia, homophobia, and associated evils. All this despite a campaign by the administration to achieve these very aims in the course of which a distinguished faculty … Continue reading “Duke Divinity School’s Race to the Bottom”

Defining Faculty Roles: Scholarship Only, Activism on Your Own Time Apr 20, 2018
One of higher education’s enduring questions is about the proper role of faculty. The debate is growing hotter, as increased activism by some faculty is causing pushback from many quarters. A week ago, the Martin Center published an article by Fabio Rojas in which he described the proper role of a faculty member as one … Continue reading “Defining Faculty Roles: Scholarship Only, Activism on Your Own Time”
The Dictatorship of the Offended Apr 18, 2018
The college campus is increasingly a focal point for shaping social norms, largely a result of rising college attendance; only five percent of the generation that came of age in the 1930s were college graduates, as opposed to roughly a third of millennials. Sometimes, however, this shaping is not always an improvement. In recent years, … Continue reading “The Dictatorship of the Offended”
Duke Divinity School’s Race to the Bottom Apr 16, 2018
The chickens have come home to roost at Duke’s Divinity School. Protesting students claim the school is insufficiently diverse. More needs to be done, they say, to combat racism, transphobia, homophobia, and associated evils. All this despite a campaign by the administration to achieve these very aims in the course of which a distinguished faculty … Continue reading “Duke Divinity School’s Race to the Bottom”