So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast Ep. 235: Cancel culture, legal education, and the Supreme Court with Ilya Shapiro
Feb 6, 2025
In this discussion, Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of "Lawless," shares his insights on the evolving landscape of legal education. He recounts his personal encounters with cancel culture, particularly during his time at Georgetown. Shapiro also analyzes significant Supreme Court cases affecting free speech, including the TikTok ownership debate and Texas' age verification law. He emphasizes the need for open dialogue in academia and reflects on the ideological shifts within elite institutions.
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Hastings Shoutdown
- Shapiro faced another shoutdown at UC Hastings, standing at the podium for an hour while students protested.
- The university's response was ineffective, highlighting the need for stronger enforcement of free speech policies.
Crisis in Law Schools
- Law schools are facing a crisis, impacting not just education but also the future of institutional leadership.
- The rise of critical theory and a shift from education to activism pose significant threats to legal education's core mission.
Beyond Ideology
- The problems in law schools are not just ideological but also bureaucratic and related to leadership failures.
- The growth of non-teaching staff, particularly in DEI, creates bureaucracies that stifle free speech and academic inquiry.
