If you are a regular reader of this blog, you probably recall the two posts related to Dr. Timothy Jackson’s absurd, unfair, and revolting academic saga.
To begin with, and as a reminder, Dr. Timothy L. Jackson is an esteemed American music theory professor of Canadian origins. Ottawa-born, he received his B.A. (1979) from McGill University and PhD (1998) from the City University of New York. He spent most of his inspiring musicological career at the University of North Texas where he has specialized in the music of the eighteenth-twentieth centuries, including Schenkerian theory.
Of note, in addition to his academic talent, Dr. Jackson is a wonderful human being/man. Bambi had the honour to write a post about his ordeal in 2021. Later, she was interviewed in 2022, along with him, by the great professor of piano Ora Itkin from the University of St. Thomas (Saint Paul, Minnesota). These older posts are shared below.
in July of 2020, both the Journal of Schenkerian Studies and its Founder/Editor, Dr. Jackson were subjected to a massive censorship attempt over their reasonable efforts to counter an attack on Schenker as well Schenkerian music theorists, and even methodology. Dr. Jackson was absurdly and, of course wrongly, accused of being “racist”. The absurd saga took place in the context of what Bambi likes to call “our collectively insane times” where a music theory could be accused of being “white supremacist”.
Indeed, just for engaging in and sharing rigorous academic research, Dr. Jackson was the target of an evil campaign to destroy his career and academic reputation (https://tinyurl.com/yvkjj47x). Thankfully, he fought back by filing a lawsuit against his university, and maybe possibly also some of his colleagues, for violation of academic freedom and for defamation.
Well today, thanks to FAIR (https://tinyurl.com/yvkjj47x), Bambi JUBILATED when she learned about his “resounding victory for academic freedom and intellectual integrity“. Indeed, following “a hard-fought legal battle“, “Dr. Jackson has reached a $725,000 settlement with the University of North Texas, marking a decisive win against efforts to silence scholarly debate” on American university campuses (https://tinyurl.com/yvkjj47x). WOW. Bravo/”Mazel Tov” [Congrats] to dear Dr. Timothy Jackson!
It is promising to see what looks like reason, finally finding its way back to Dr. Jackson’s university, fostered by his inspiring tenacity in fighting back. Here, and if she may, Bambi will allow herself to congratulate his attorney or legal team as well as the Jacksons. This incredible success is a piece of good news not just to them, but also to each one of us, academics and citizens—human beings and deer too : )!
Long live academic freedom, freedom of expression, and reason. Long live musicology and music. To end this post with music as usual, Bambi offers Dr. Jackson two meaningful songs. The first famous German song about freedom of thought is sub-titled in English. As for the second song, it is the “Mabrouk” [Congrats] joyful Lebanese song by Mr. Rami Ayash :)!
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ONCE AGAIN …….. ONE BRAVE SOUL , WHO ” BELIEVES ” THAT THE JUST WILL
OBTAIN JUSTICE ! GOOD ON DR. JACKSON ….. AND ALL WHO BACKED HIS HONOR .