Gringos set him straight. Update to this previous story.
University of Delaware officials have refused to provide information on the funding of a climate professor to House Democrats, stating that to do so would violate the university’s policies on academic freedom.
In a response dated Monday and later released to reporters, officials at the University of Delaware provided Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, Arizona Democrat, with general information about the institution’s funding policies. But they refused to turn over details related to the financial backing of professor David Legates.
“The University of Delaware chooses not to act in a manner inconsistent with its governing principles and contractual commitments,” said the letter signed by UD president Patrick T. Harker and provost Domenico Grasso.
Mr. Grijalva, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Natural Resources, launched an investigation last month into the internal and external funding of seven professors who have disputed the climate change movement’s contention that global warming is resulting in extreme weather events.
The Grijalva letters ask five questions, the first on university policies on financial disclosure and the other four on the funding of specific professors by name. University of Delaware officials provided information in response to the first question but not the others.
“The remaining four questions in your letter relate to research conducted by Professor Legates, who is mentioned by name in each question,” said the letter from the Delaware president and provost. “The University respectfully declines to respond to those questions, which we believe intrude into areas that are protected by academic freedom.”