March 3, 2011: All We Ever Wanted To Know About Sex And Are Afraid To Ask

O.k., this will probably be my shortest blog ever.  Sometimes I can be rendered speechless.

Two stories that literally stand side by side of each other in today's Inside Higher Ed (the links are to more detailed articles from other sources):

BYU basketball player kicked off team for engaging in pre-marital sex and breaking school's honor code

and

Northwestern defends course-related sex demonstration

Two prestigious universities reacting in very different ways, yet revealing their core value.  Brigham Young is an institution dedicated to a specific moral code that it believes all of its students should follow (one I may not agree with, but I'll give them credit for standing true to who they are).  Athletes at other universities do much worse things and miss a game or two.  You got to feel for the kid and the team, but they can be proud in their institution staying true to their values.

In a weird way, that's exactly what Northwestern has done in responding to its sexually related scandal:  "The University supports the efforts of its faculty to further the advancement of knowledge," speaketh university's public relations head.  As with Brigham Young's response to its scandal, I disagree with the university's moral stance, but that's just me. Northwestern stands true to its belief in academic freedom.

Still, I can't help being embarrassed by association with one institution's response.  Sometimes academics make it so easy for the Right to attack us.  I have no doubt the Northwestern story gets a lot of play on Fox News the next few days.