Is a radical left-wing academic working at your university?
If so, a new website is asking for your help in identifying the “crazy radical professor” on campus. Thanks to Professor Watchlist, students can now “expose and document” professors who “discriminate against conservative students, promote anti-American values and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom”.
Launched on 21 November by Turning Point USA, the site already profiles dozens of US academics who apparently have a “record of opposing freedom of speech on campus”, but is seeking further tip-offs from worried students.
“Turning Point USA is saying enough is enough. It’s time we expose these professors,” wrote the group’s founder Charlie Kirk, according to Inside Higher Ed.
However, academics have also joined the hunt, submitting their own suggestions for deviant professors worthy of further investigation. Their tongue-in-cheek submissions have been shared on Twitter, using the hashtag #trollprofwatchlist.
Among the suspicious leftie professors reported to the site include Indiana Jones (who is “clearly biased against white fascist group” owing to his killing of Nazis); Third Rock from the Sun’s Richard Solomon ("illegal alien, probably an international spy and security risk”); and Hogwarts’ Professor Snape (who “killed Dumbledore”). Here are some of the best.
An Indiana Jones critic was concerned by “the number of Nazis killed by Professor Jones” and how he “neglects his teaching to engage in anti-fascist activities”.
I welcome this opportunity to highlight what I have always felt was very irresponsible academic behaviour... #trollprofwatchlist pic.twitter.com/zTKagrsq0r
— C. Dodds Pennock (@carolinepennock) 21 November 2016
School swot Hermione Granger (of Harry Potter fame) had no qualms about grassing up dodgy Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry professor Gilderoy Lockhart for “releasing pixies in class” and “trying to erase my friends’ memories”...
Including video clip of said pixie incident. #trollprofwatchlist pic.twitter.com/L2CCJj5cta
— Taylor Maavara (@TaylorMaavara) 21 November 2016
...and Severus Snape, also a Hogwarts lecturer, can expect a call from the Ministry of Magic too.
Childish, but hey ho #trollprofwatchlist pic.twitter.com/BiMqgrI7OU
— Kate Sang (@katesang) 21 November 2016
Time-travelling professor River Song (think "Doctor Who") caught the eye of one student....
Hello, sweetie. #trollprofwatchlist pic.twitter.com/N4X1iADDj9
— Emer McHugh (@emeramchugh) 21 November 2016
... while Narnia exile Professor Digory Kirke may be asked to explain the children in his wardrobe.
Another sinister anti-authoritarian reported to #trollprofwatchlist : Prof Digory Kirke, wardrobe enthusiast. pic.twitter.com/T9iqXtmbNU
— Plashing Vole (@PlashingVole) 22 November 2016
Meanwhile, Dr Jekyll’s students worry about his “nasty side”, apparently.
I have to credit @Astrophilorama with this one. #trollprofwatchlist pic.twitter.com/oBIFMf7oMT
— Emma Kennedy (@Nufanglenesse) 21 November 2016
Super sleuth Sherlock Holmes finally exposes his nemesis Moriarty....
Should probably stop now #trollprofwatchlist pic.twitter.com/zhicKVy3gY
— Kate Sang (@katesang) 21 November 2016
... and X-Men's Professor X’s “liberal propaganda” was too much for one Twitter user.
#trollprofessorwatchlist pic.twitter.com/tOIEK83rys
— Christopher (@DrLockett) 22 November 2016
A James Joyce fan gets involved...
#trollprofwatchlist hope they like James Joyce pic.twitter.com/GWoPlfEEch
— James MacDonald III (@jmacdonald2010) 21 November 2016
... and former US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders lookalike, Doc Emmett’s Brown, may face investigation when he returns from 1885.
#trollprofwatchlist #trollprofessorwatchlist These professors are just out-of-control. pic.twitter.com/db4dZ3PFmi
— SarahRRunge (@TwoOneSix216) 22 November 2016
Dead Poets Society teacher John Keating may also get a Professor Watchlist profile...
Oh Captain, My Captain - he was a part of a secret society! #trollprofwatchlist @AcademicsSay #CarpeDiem pic.twitter.com/5XAdjO8Gib
— Liam Miller (@liammiller87) 21 November 2016
...and Professor Watchlist even got "Rickrolled" too.
Went with a classic. #trollprofwatchlist #trollprofessorwatchlist pic.twitter.com/qGGfcJmdC8
— Derek J. Thiess (@DerekThiess) 22 November 2016
Read next: 11 tweets that show what happens if you publicly dismiss the work of academics