In this episode of Radio Free Campus, co-hosts Steve McGuire and Justin Garrison discuss the past, present, and future of academic freedom with David Rabban, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law and author of the book Academic Freedom: From Professional Norm to First Amendment Right. Steve and Justin also discuss academic freedom controversies such as the University of Oklahoma's grading scandal and a major political science journal's systemic problem of publishing articles on the basis of ideology rather than scholarly merit. They also announce 2025's final "Hero of the People" and "Apparatchik of the Month" awards.

Want to buy Professor Rabban's book? Get it now! It's 30% off until Dec. 31 with this promo code: HOL25. Visit the publisher's website here: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674291058

Want Professor Rabban to speak at your university or professional association? Contact him here: [email protected]

ACTA's Gold Standard for Freedom of Expression Evaluation for University of Florida: https://www.goacta.org/campus-freedom-initiative/ufl-report-card/

Website: https://www.goacta.org/

Campus Freedom Initiative: https://www.goacta.org/campus-freedom-initiative/

Steve McGuire: https://www.goacta.org/staff/steven-mcguire/

Justin Garrison: https://www.goacta.org/staff/justin-garrison/

In this episode of Radio Free Campus, co-hosts Steve McGuire and Justin Garrison discuss pandemonium at U.C. Berkeley as Antifa tries to shut down a TPUSA event. They interview Sarah McLaughlin of FIRE to talk about her new book, Authoritarians in the Academy, which documents the ways foreign governments such as China and Qatar try to suppress free speech and academic freedom at American universities. Steve and Justin also discuss Cornell University's settlement with the Trump administration and growing faculty use of AI in teaching. They also announce their latest "Hero of the People" and "Apparatchik of the Month" awards.

Website: https://www.goacta.org/

Campus Freedom Initiative™: https://www.goacta.org/campus-freedom-initiative/

Steve McGuire: https://www.goacta.org/staff/steven-mcguire

Justin Garrison: https://www.goacta.org/staff/justin-garrison/

In this episode of Radio Free Campus, co-hosts Steve McGuire and Justin Garrison discuss the Trump administration's Compact for Excellence in Higher Education. Steve also talks about diversity of thought and campus freedom with Josh Dunn, the director of the Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Last but never least, Steve and Justin announce their latest "Hero of the People" and "Apparatchik of the Month" awards.

Website: https://www.goacta.org/

Campus Freedom Initiative™: https://www.goacta.org/campus-freedom-initiative/

ACTA Statements on the Compact:

https://www.goacta.org/2025/10/acta-proposes-an-honorable-compact/

https://www.goacta.org/2025/10/acta-publica-conflicts-in-the-compact/

Steve McGuire: https://www.goacta.org/staff/steven-mcguire

Justin Garrison: https://www.goacta.org/staff/justin-garrison/

In this episode of Radio Free Campus, co-hosts Steve McGuire and Justin Garrison discuss the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk and what his murder might mean for the future of free expression in higher education. They interview ACTA President and CEO Michael Poliakoff about the perils we face and how we can all help de-escalate the tensions roiling America. Steve and Justin introduce ACTA's new Virginia Report Card, a systematic analysis of policies and survey data on the free speech and intellectual diversity climates at George Mason University, James Madison University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia Tech. You don't want to miss these results! They also preview ACTA's upcoming 30th anniversary celebration and announce their latest "Hero of the People" and "Apparatchik of the Month" awards.

Radio Free Campus is offered by the Campus Freedom Initiative™ at the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. Email us at [email protected]!

ACTA's 30th Anniversary: https://www.goacta.org/event/anniversary/

Virginia Report Card: https://www.goacta.org/campus-freedom-initiative/va-report-card/

Michael and Steve's Statement on the Assassination of Charlie Kirk: https://www.goacta.org/2025/09/on-the-assassination-of-charlie-kirk/

Website: https://www.goacta.org/

Campus Freedom Initiative™: https://www.goacta.org/campus-freedom-initiative/

Steve McGuire: https://www.goacta.org/staff/steven-mcguire

Justin Garrison: https://www.goacta.org/staff/justin-garrison/

Michael Poliakoff: https://www.goacta.org/staff/michael-b-poliakoff

In this episode of Radio Free Campus, co-hosts Steve McGuire and Justin Garrison talk with MIT philosopher Alex Byrne about efforts to cancel him for thinking differently about gender and sexuality—and then having the audacity to lend his expertise to the Department of Health and Human Services! Also, they discuss Columbia's settlement with the Trump administration, Attorney General Pam Bondi's recent memo on DEI, and a tale of two university presidents in Virginia. Finally, RFC announces its latest "Hero of the People" and "Apparatchik of the Month" awards.

Radio Free Campus is offered by the Campus Freedom Initiative™ at the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.

In this episode of Radio Free Campus, co-hosts Steve McGuire and Justin Garrison discuss the recent annual meeting of the Heterodox Academy in Brooklyn, NY, Harvard's claim that it wants to build a new center that can boost viewpoint diversity, and the perpetual security threats faced by the University of Michigan's Regents. They also discuss the nuclear meltdown of the University of Tulsa's Honors College with guest Jennifer Frey. Finally, RFC announces its latest "Hero of the People" and "Apparatchik of the Month" awards.

Radio Free Campus is offered by the Campus Freedom Initiative™ at the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.

In this episode of Radio Free Campus, co-hosts Steve McGuire and Justin Garrison discuss Trump v. Harvard as well as . . . DEI for conservatives? Also in the episode, Steve and Justin welcome Eric Kaufmann of the University of Buckingham to discuss viewpoint diversity in higher education, as well as the need to support heterodox social science teaching and research. Finally, RFC announces its latest "Hero of the People" and "Apparatchik of the Month" awards.

Radio Free Campus is offered by the Campus Freedom Initiative™ at the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.

In this episode of Radio Free Campus, co-hosts Steve McGuire and Justin Garrison discuss the amazing work done by the University of Michigan Board of Regents to improve campus freedom. They also talk about the most recent campus protests at Columbia University and beyond. They also welcome John D. Sailer of the Manhattan Institute to discuss the DEI pipeline in faculty hiring. Finally, Steve and Justin give their first "Hero of the People" and "Apparatchik of the Month" awards. No idea what that last bit means? Listen and find out!

Radio Free Campus is offered by the Campus Freedom Initiative™ at the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.