Professor Watchlist

Deirdre McCloskey is a Distinguished Professor of History, Economics, English, and Communication at the University of Illinois Chicago. McCloskey is the author of 15 books and is a trans woman who says he has been “socially performing” as a woman for 27 years.

Professor McCloskey was scheduled to debate the topic of “Transgenderism and Womanhood” with Michael Knowles at an event hosted by the University of Pittsburgh’s College Republicans and the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. Leading up to the event, a petition was circulated around campus calling for the event to be canceled. On March 11, in response to this, McCloskey tweeted:

A thousand people have signed a petition against Michael Knowles ‘debating” me on transgender matters on April 18 at Pittsburgh. They should be ashamed. True, Knowles is an anti-Jesus Catholic, a fascist advocating state power over ideas. But we live in a free country.

— Deirdre Nansen McCloskey (@DeirdreMcClosk) March 11, 2023

In an interview with The Pitt News, McCloskey said:

“That people recommend it’s a good idea to stop open conversation in a university because someone says something they don’t agree with is counter to the purposes, the noble purposes, of the University of Pittsburgh. It’s a complete undermining of the ideals of Western civilization.” 

McCloskey also claimed:

“Opposing him speaking is exactly what he wants because then the cruel conservatives, which he’s a good example [of], can say, ‘Ah, you see, those leftists, they don’t believe in free speech.’ That’s the kind of people they are. So you can see how stupid it is to oppose this.” 

However, just a few weeks later, McCloskey pulled out of the debate. Michael Knowles announced the news on Twitter, saying:

I’ve just learned that Prof. McCloskey has dropped out of our debate scheduled for next week. For weeks, he’s baselessly smeared me as a “fascist” but nonetheless insisted upon the importance of debating ideas rather than running from them. Apparently he’s changed his mind. 🧵 https://t.co/pKJaLECR26

— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) April 11, 2023

McCloskey told Campus Reform the appearance was canceled because Knowles is “utterly uninterested in finding the truth,” adding:

“He is interested in stirring up hatred and violence towards people who do not fit his extremely conservative Catholic beliefs, beliefs quite contrary to those of, for example, Pope Francis. I decided not to participate in giving [Knowles] a platform.”

 

Published – April 19, 2023