Author Profile

John Stevens

John Stevens directs the Great Books program at East Carolina University. From 2003 to 2008 he was director of the Classical Studies program, and in 2004-2005 he was interim chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, which he joined in 1993. He is the author of a commentary on Cicero’s “Dream of Scipio” and articles on Greek and Roman poetry and philosophy. He received his Ph.D. in classical studies from Duke University and his B.A. and M.A. in classics from the University of Iowa. In 2004 he received ECU's University Award for Outstanding Teaching.

Articles by John Stevens

Great Ideas Do Not Oppress—They Enlighten

Feb 10, 2009 · John Stevens · Comments Off

A professor defends his advocacy of a Great Books program against an attack by politicized faculty members.

The DIE Revolution Will Transform Tenure Aug 5, 2022
There is much discussion in academia at present about the future of tenure. Critics of this protection from political or moral pressure against freedom of inquiry include both left-progressives, who see it as an illegitimate method to prevent the penalization of conservatives, and some on the right who believe that market forces should be allowed … Continue reading “The DIE Revolution Will Transform Tenure”
Academic Expertise and the Principal-Agent Problem Aug 3, 2022
Politicians and activists are making increasingly strident claims that democracy is under attack and that democratic norms are being threatened. Yet, when it comes to the true point of democracy—namely, the voting public determining public policy—the biggest threat is a subtle one. There’s an increasing tendency in mature democracies to outsource policy decisions to “non-partisan … Continue reading “Academic Expertise and the Principal-Agent Problem”
Beyond Student-Faculty Ratios Jul 29, 2022
As students and parents shop for colleges, trying to envision what they will receive in return for tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, one of the central questions on their minds is, “How much personal attention and access to professors does this college offer?” No simple statistic can provide an answer. At first glance, … Continue reading “Beyond Student-Faculty Ratios”

Diversity-Office Funding Wastes UNC-System Resources Aug 8, 2022
Colleges and universities nationwide are quickly adopting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) ideologies, and the UNC System is no exception. In recent years, this has led to DEI-inspired task forces, departments, and hirings, and DEI has become embedded in all 16 of the schools’ strategic plans. For readers who are unfamiliar with the flaws of … Continue reading “Diversity-Office Funding Wastes UNC-System Resources”
The DIE Revolution Will Transform Tenure Aug 5, 2022
There is much discussion in academia at present about the future of tenure. Critics of this protection from political or moral pressure against freedom of inquiry include both left-progressives, who see it as an illegitimate method to prevent the penalization of conservatives, and some on the right who believe that market forces should be allowed … Continue reading “The DIE Revolution Will Transform Tenure”
Did You Know? UNC-Chapel Hill Now Has Some of the Best Free-Speech Policies in the Nation Aug 4, 2022
Last week, the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees passed two important resolutions on campus viewpoint neutrality. With the addition of these protections, UNC’s free-speech policies are among the best in the nation. In a joint meeting of the University Affairs Committee and the Strategic Initiatives Committee, trustees voted unanimously to adopt both resolutions. The “Resolution … Continue reading “Did You Know? UNC-Chapel Hill Now Has Some of the Best Free-Speech Policies in the Nation”

Diversity-Office Funding Wastes UNC-System Resources Aug 8, 2022
Colleges and universities nationwide are quickly adopting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) ideologies, and the UNC System is no exception. In recent years, this has led to DEI-inspired task forces, departments, and hirings, and DEI has become embedded in all 16 of the schools’ strategic plans. For readers who are unfamiliar with the flaws of … Continue reading “Diversity-Office Funding Wastes UNC-System Resources”
The DIE Revolution Will Transform Tenure Aug 5, 2022
There is much discussion in academia at present about the future of tenure. Critics of this protection from political or moral pressure against freedom of inquiry include both left-progressives, who see it as an illegitimate method to prevent the penalization of conservatives, and some on the right who believe that market forces should be allowed … Continue reading “The DIE Revolution Will Transform Tenure”
Did You Know? UNC-Chapel Hill Now Has Some of the Best Free-Speech Policies in the Nation Aug 4, 2022
Last week, the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees passed two important resolutions on campus viewpoint neutrality. With the addition of these protections, UNC’s free-speech policies are among the best in the nation. In a joint meeting of the University Affairs Committee and the Strategic Initiatives Committee, trustees voted unanimously to adopt both resolutions. The “Resolution … Continue reading “Did You Know? UNC-Chapel Hill Now Has Some of the Best Free-Speech Policies in the Nation”