The Politically Correct Science Takeover

In a speech this week, physicist Prof. Yoni Duby from Ben-Gurion University declared: Progressivism is taking over the hard sciences.

We have grown used to scholars in the humanities offering their opinions, which one may or may not accept. But what about the hard sciences? These, after all, deal with facts.

Well, that's a thing of the past. Universities are now perceived as tools for social change, with students becoming agents of change.

In academia, lists of "forbidden words" are being issued, banning words that might offend various populations or genders. Using the word "dark" to emphasize something is deemed offensive to the descendants of slaves; the phrase "blind spot" is considered offensive to blind people.

The world's leading physics organization tackled what they call "whiteness": In a group of students solving problems on a blackboard, the white male writes in the center, taking over and engaging in "whiteness," with the primary issue being his pursuit of a correct solution... This "whiteness" is unacceptable. Three scholars penned a rebuttal, claiming the accusations were absurd. Their response was not published (one reason cited was that one respondent was white and therefore cannot judge).

Three Indian researchers submitted a paper to a computer science conference on recognizing sign language using machine learning. The paper caused an uproar because it mentioned that deafness presents challenges and because none of the authors were deaf... Who suffers from this ridiculous response? The deaf community, who cannot benefit from serious researchers’ work.

These are not anecdotes; this is the standard. Academic institutions warp and truncate research under the guise of political correctness.

It's not just abroad; it's happening here too. The head of the physics department sent a letter to physics professors titled "Puzzlement": "How come you didn't sign the faculty letter against the judicial reform? How could it be, I wonder?" Faculty members who need the department head's assistance face pressure to adopt the "correct" viewpoint. New professional committee standards are being set, specifying "woman or Arab," and more politically correct definitions.

Therefore, one should not be swayed by an academic research opinion—there is no longer academic freedom. Strong pressure is applied on professors, researchers, and authors to align with the "correct" line.