Media Outrage Building over Whistleblowing UCLA Professor's Case

Hearings for University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) professor and scientist James Enstrom began yesterday. Dr. Enstrom is fighting for his job after UCLA retaliated against him for his exposure of a California Air Resources Board (CARB) scientist with a fake Ph.D. as well as other staffing irregularities, and for Enstrom's scientific critique of findings by CARB that were used to create air pollution regulations in the state.

Last week, Reason.tv released a video about the implications of a professor being punished for claiming that his state's environmental policy relies on questionable science, and 12 California legislators wrote UCLA Chancellor Gene Block to express concern about academic freedom in the University of California system.

Since last week, Enstrom's story has been picked up by writers for a number of outlets, including The Chronicle of Higher Education, Instapundit, Carpe Diem, Hot Air, Canada Free Press, The Blaze, and the San Francisco Examiner (an article the UCLA Office of Media Relations linked to in its own press roundup). Former FIRE President David French also covered the case for Phi Beta Cons on National Review Online and Reason's Nick Gillespie has continued Reason's coverage as well. The case—including the audio from the Reason.tv video—also was featured on The John and Ken Show based in the Los Angeles area (KFI, AM 640).

UCLA's gross violation of Enstrom's rights is making big news both inside and outside of California. Stay tuned for more.