Throughout his years of teaching, his students enjoyed plays, field trips, fairs and square dancing as well as many artifacts and turtle terrariums in his classroom. His summers were spent at the “Cabin” on Deep Lake, there we will set him free. His teaching career started at First Ward Elementary in Chippewa Falls, then briefly at Eagleton and finished at Stillson Elementary. He obtained his Masters Degree in 1965 from UW Superior. Gordy graduated from UW Superior in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Later they divorced and remained friends. He married Dorothy Kuechler, they had two children. Gordy served in the Navy from 1944 -1946, during which he received his high school diploma from Superior Central High School. He was born on October 4, 1926, the son of Albert and Rhenilda (McKenzie) Gee in Superior, WI. Gee, 91, of Chippewa falls died peacefully at home with his family by his sided on August 26, 2018. Higher ed needs more respected academics in positions of power and influence to advocate on behalf of academic and intellectual freedom on college campuses.Gordon J. Gee has never been afraid to insert himself in controversial issues, sometimes to his own detriment. That cannot happen if faculty and students must constantly worry that they will be canceled or forced to self-censor. Maybe it is because Gee dares to associate himself with a startup school specifically tailored to countering the trend on college campuses to cancel speech that is unpopular or potentially offensive.Ĭollege campuses should be marketplaces of ideas, the ultimate safe space for freewheeling speech, a stage for intellectual debate and rigor. It is not as though WVU and the University of Austin are going to compete against each other for students. Gee added that he knows “some are disappointed that I have served in this role of advisor.” Why would that be? I have spoken to this point frequently and remain committed to this ideal.” “This is the very tenet of academic freedom. “I have always strongly felt that every campus must be a haven where all ideas can be exchanged freely in a civil and thoughtful manner,” Gee wrote.
He is also an advocate for the free and protected exchange of disparate ideas on campus at a time when many schools are wallowing in wokeism. Perhaps what inspired Kanelos to try to draw upon Gee’s expertise is that he is among the most seasoned and recognizable college presidents in the country.
“And I have provided examples of how we are working to change higher education at West Virginia University and within the state of West Virginia.” ”I have shared my insights on why I believe higher education must change,” Gee wrote. “Let me state unequivocally that I am fully committed to West Virginia University.” However, he is serving in an advisory capacity to the new school. Gee quickly explained to WVU students, faculty, staff and alumni in a letter that he is not going anywhere. So, it will be a higher ed pushback to the campus cancel culture. “The reality is that many universities no longer have an incentive to create an environment where intellectual dissent is protected and fashionable opinions are scrutinized,” Kanelos said. Incoming president Pano Kanelos is quoted in the Austin American-Statesman as saying the school will value and promote dissent and voices that are being canceled on many college campuses. The cryptic announcement prompted questions: What is this new “university?” Is Gee going to work there? If not, why is he promoting another school when he’s the president of WVU? And isn’t this new school loading up on right wingers?Īs UATX explained in the tweet, it is “A new university dedicated to the pursuit of truth.” The tweet goes on to say, “We’re done waiting for America’s universities to fix themselves, so we’re starting a new one.” The University of Austin (UATX) listed Gordon Gee’s name in the tweet without a further explanation of his role. The tweet this week announcing the startup of a new university in Texas caused a stir in West Virginia.