…although it's pathetic that the NY reports this as though the only critics of their use were "conservativdes," when the only serious critics were defenders of free speech and academic freedom.  (The benighted Professor Soucek from UC Davis, based on the quote in the article, still professes to believe that mandated action in accordance with political ideology is constitutional, even if mandated belief is not, which is bizarre.)

Unfortunately for many academic job seekers, Univeristy of California Chancellor Drake has also announced (see here) a system-wide freeze in faculty and staff hiring (as well as cuts in other areas).  That's pretty dramatic, but telling of the times we are in.