University of North Texas: Academic Journal Investigated for Edition Debating Racism in Music Theory

In July 2020, UNT announced an investigation into the Journal of Schenkerian Studies after the music theory journal published a series of articles debating the relationship between racism and the theories developed by the journal’s namesake, 19th century music theorist Heinrich Schenker. The series had come under fire by some graduate students and faculty, who called for UNT to investigate, shut down the journal, and dismiss Professor Timothy Jackson, one of the journal’s faculty editors. FIRE explained in an August 5 letter that UNT may not investigate the journal’s content, which is protected by academic and editorial freedom under the First Amendment.