The odd case of Erik Ringmar, a tenured lecturer in government at the London School of Economics, shows that even in liberal societies there are plenty of forces ranged against free speech.
Ringmar gave a talk to students considering attending LSE where he was funny and honest:
Many employers don’t actually trust the university to convey the kind of information they approve of and prefer instead to teach their staff themselves. Often of course this makes a lot of sense. What you need to know as an employee in a company is to a large extent practical, hands-on, stuff which universities can’t teach you. Not even the LSE. What this means is that much of what you learn at the university is pretty useless in career terms.
He also noted that students might not have much interaction with senior faculty: “[The importance of their own research] means that the first-class teachers usually will have their minds elsewhere than on undergraduate teaching. They might be away on conferences, and even if they are not absent in body, they may be absent in mind.” My reading of his talk was that it was an excellent, frank appraisal that painted the institution in an overwhelmingly positive light. If prospective students prefer a marketing pitch to Ringmar’s honesty, they probably shouldn’t be going to LSE.
That’s not, apparently, how many of Ringmar’s colleagues saw it. He was criticized for not using the PowerPoint that had been provided to him (which sounds like a joke, except it isn’t), and was officially reprimanded by the institution. The LSE statement notes: “Following complaints made by staff about the content of Dr Ringmar’s lecture to the open day, and further complaints about offensive and potentially defamatory material in Dr Ringmar’s blog (at that time connected to the LSE website) that came to light after the lecture, Dr Ringmar received a reprimand from his convenor.” I think it’s an extremely tenuous assertion that anything on Ringmar’s blog is defamatory and his blog is on an independent server, not on LSE property. Ringmar deconstructs the statement at length.
I know Howard Davies, Director of the LSE (equivalent to a president or chancellor), and I am truly surprised by the denseness of his reaction: “The issue here is not a policy on blogging, it is whether a colleague can publicly abuse his employer and his colleagues without consequences.” I couldn’t read Ringmar’s speech and see abuse. And it’s easy to see how freedom of speech and freedom of the press (blogging) are deeply linked.
Ringmar doesn’t do himself much credit by comparing his plight to Internet censorship in China, which is absurd, but he gets the main point right:
Everyone who reads this should start their own blog. A blog allows you to speak in public, in your own words and in your own fashion. This is particularly important for people who previously never had a public voice. Blogs are incredibly empowering and as such a great — you could even say a necessary — complement to human rights. If you only have your own blog you can even take on the establishment — and live to tell the tale.
Update Ringmar comments to make clear that he doesn’t compare his situation to that in China. He just believes (rightly) that the LSE authorities shouldn’t behave like Chinese ones. Incidentally, I went back and looked at Ringmar’s prophetic post before he gave his talk to prospective students. Great stuff:
I know nothing about the undergrad programme, and as Swede from Norflondon with a ponytail, I’m not likely to inspire confidence. Last time I talked to prospective students I lost the School thousands of pounds. The only reason they asked me is that everyone reasonable already has buggered off on their respective Easter vacations.
They’ve sent out a pre-prepared Powerpoint presentation with the official sales-pitch which I am expected to talk over. A pre-prepared Powerpoint presentation!!! Who are they kidding??? I have two PhDs and a conscience; I don’t go into a classroom with someone else’s Powerpoints. Surely it is is far better for both the School and for prospective students if I try to tell them as truthfully as I can, in my own words, warts and all, what it’s like to study at an elite university.
Incidentally, I assume Ringmar realizes and is amused that his blog’s title, Forget the Footnotes, is Forge the Footnotes in the URL.
Hi there,
I’m Erik! Nice to be in your blog. Thanks for the summary and thanks for standing up for freedom of speech. The Brits love to be seen to follow rules but they know absolutely nothing about principles. On my own plight, let me clarify: I didn’t actually compare my situation with Internet censorship in China. Instead I said that the LSE shouldn’t behave like the Chinese authorities (or like Walmart). A university requires freedom of expression to survive.
I’ve provided an update to clarify your comparison with China, Erik. Thanks.
Hi Lance,
Thanks. I’m linking to you from my page.
Some Lincoln guy once said “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
Personally, I would have toed the line in the presentation. Personal obversations could probably have been conveyed in Q&A. Here in the states, I believe a majority of folks persuing largely accademic fields understand that most of what they learn will not be directly applied when they enter the workforce. Never mind that most of us end up in careers that have nothing to do with our field of study. Getting this across to prospective students at LSE, especially when you’re supposed to be doing what amounts to a mini-sales pitch, seems beside the point and grandstanding. I mean who is he trying to attract to the school? Only students who don’t care that they will never get to chat up the nobel laureates every day at lunch? As with any education, it is what you make of it. My school Dean used to say students “are here to learn how to learn.” Something I feel I accomplished and a lesson I hold dearly today.
Oh, and that quote above? Perhaps it applies to Mr. Ringmar, but it probably applies more to me.
While I stand on Erik’s side of this particular argument, I think it’s unfortunate that he so casually makes a generalisation about the British ‘knowing absolutely nothing about principles’.
I attended the LSE and can tell you that Erik is absolutely spot on. As an undergraduate there, you are the last thing on (most) acadmics’ minds. There are some exceptions, but mostly you have little access to lecturers. Also, particularly in the department of Accounting and Finance, many class teachers (phd students) tend to act like they are only there for the money and struggle to explain topics in understandable detail.
LSE is a research based institution and despite its tremendous reputation, it is not the best option for all students. It is a shame that Eric should reprimanded for highlighting this fact.
Great blog! (and hi to Erik if you see this)
I am a LSE MS alumni from 2003. Erik’s speech was right on. It is fantastic for kids to know exactly what they are in for – however it sounds as if it might have been too honest for the LSE administration. That is a shame, however at least the professors are the people you deal with as a student.
Hi guys, thanks for feedback. Whatever else this story teaches us, it has certainly revealed the power of blogs. It has also unearthed a great desire among LSE students, past and present, to communicate with staff. The School must get its act together here.
Sorry for saying that the British ‘care about rules and know nothing about principles.’ If fact they don’t really care about rules either — they just want to be seen to do so. As far as principles are concerend, you have to rely on people from societies which have gone through proper revolutions like France and the US.
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Hi there, i am looking for info on online education but i am left wondering how is your post How the London School of Economics fails to understand freedom of speech related to that ? .
Old post.. But I think they are watching many blogs, if not all of them.. Google analytics show them visiting my blog many times a month.. Strange, im not that interesting or intelligent..