Heterodox Out Loud

Trump vs. Academia: Inside the Battle Over Campus Speech with Joe Cohn | Ep 33

Apr 8, 2025

Joe Cohn, the Policy Director at Heterodox Academy and an expert in civil liberties, dives into the complex interplay between federal policies and academic freedom. He discusses Trump's education agenda, examining its effects on free speech and the enforcement of Title VI against discrimination. Cohn emphasizes the need for procedural rigor to balance institutional autonomy with necessary oversight. He advocates for persuasion over censorship in tackling bigotry and highlights the vital role of international students in enriching campus discourse.

58:24

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Episode guests

Joe Cohn

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The podcast discusses the importance of open dialogue over censorship in effectively addressing bigotry and anti-Semitism on campus.

Joe Cohn analyzes the implications of the Trump administration's federal actions, particularly how they affected diversity policies and funding in higher education.

Concerns are raised about the erosion of procedural protections under Title VI enforcement, which could negatively impact academic freedom and open inquiry.

Deep dives

The Limits of Censorship in Combatting Bigotry

Censorship and raw power are ineffective means to combat bigotry and anti-Semitism, which can only be addressed through persuasion. The podcast emphasizes that changing people's minds requires open dialogue rather than suppressing free expression. An approach that fosters understanding is vital in addressing and overcoming these issues. Simply silencing opposing viewpoints does not create a healthier environment but rather exacerbates divisiveness.

Intro

2min

Trump's Education Agenda: Policies and Impacts

6min

Government Impact on Academic Freedom

11min

Navigating Free Speech and Discrimination in Academia

23min

Navigating Deportation and Academic Freedom

11min

The Impact of International Students on Campus Discourse

2min

Navigating Free Speech and Censorship on Campus

4min

Where should the line be drawn between the government's role in stopping discrimination and a university's right to run itself? Today on Heterodox Out Loud, John Tomasi sits down with Joe Cohn, Policy Director at Heterodox Academy, to discuss the complexities of federal intervention in higher education.

Cohn, a First Amendment expert, delves into the implications of recent federal actions, including those by the Trump administration, to combat anti-Semitism and enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. They explore the tension between academic freedom and the necessity of preventing discrimination, examining specific cases of funding pauses and immigration enforcement actions. Cohn argues for procedural rigor in federal oversight to protect both institutional autonomy and individual rights, advocating for persuasion over censorship in addressing bigotry.

In This Episode:

💥 Trump’s policies on DEI and gender ideology

💥 How Title VI enforcement impacts university funding

💥 Free speech vs. discrimination on campus

💥 Immigration enforcement and academic freedom

💥 Importance of constructive disagreement and viewpoint diversity

About Joe:

Joe Cohn is the inaugural Director of Policy at Heterodox Academy, where he leads efforts to advance open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement through institutional and legislative reforms in higher education. An attorney specializing in civil liberties, Joe holds a JD and a Master’s in Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. He has served as a staff attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, and as interim legal director for ACLU affiliates in Nevada and Utah. He also taught trial advocacy as an adjunct professor at Penn Law. Before joining HxA, Joe spent 12 years as Legislative and Policy Director at the Foundation for Individual Rights (FIRE), where he led a team focused on free speech and civil liberties in higher education, regularly engaging lawmakers and testifying nationwide.

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