State and Federal Leaders Denounce UW Journalism Course’s ‘First Day Reflection’

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August, and others criticized the assignment

Vilas Communication Hall

An assignment given in a UW journalism course that asked students to identify whether any of their “identities” are “privileged” has drawn criticism from state and federal politicians.

The “First Day Reflection” for Journalism 620: International Communication asked students, “What are some of your socio-cultural identities? Are any of these identities privileged? Are any of them marginalized?”

The assignment claimed, “Whiteness and cis-gender people are privileged not only in U.S. society, but also in many parts of the world.” It also said, “Pansexual people are often misunderstood by both gay and straight people. What is more, any kind of queer sexuality continues to arouse suspicion in many parts of the world (including here in the U.S.).”

The assignment told students, “Your professor identifies as a White, cis-gender woman with a U.S. passport. Although she has been in a hetero-passing marriage for many years, she is pansexual.”

The professor for the course, Lindsay Palmer, specializes in theories of press freedom, media ethics, and gender and sexuality. Her biography on Bluesky, a left-wing alternative to X, says she is “an antiracist, white cis woman who’s pansexual and a trans ally.” She studies “press freedom and international news from a decolonial and feminist perspective.”

UW-Madison “believes that it is important for every faculty member to create an environment through their teaching and teaching materials where all students feel comfortable participating in these discussions,” university spokesman John Lucas told The Madison Federalist.

“A discussion in the first class meeting gave students the opportunity to reflect upon and share, if they wished, more about their personal views, identities and background and how those factors may also influence the ways they also interact with media.” He continued, “Students were provided the opportunity to participate in the discussion in any way they chose, including the opportunity to challenge the concepts or material with the instructor and their classmates.”

The Madison Federalist requested a copy of the course’s syllabus from Palmer, but did not receive a response as of the publication of this article.

A screenshot of the assignment was first shared on X by state Rep. Alex Dallman, who wrote, “This is why parents are thinking twice about sending their kids to [UW-Madison] and other [University of Wisconsin] institutions. This is what students are getting on DAY ONE.” The post has since been shared by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and various other elected officials.

Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August said, “Whoever is teaching this class should be fired immediately. No student should be subjected to this kind of bullshit.” He continued, “We will be filing this away for the next budget.”

“Our kids deserve an education that prepares them to succeed, not a four-year crash course in woke ideology,” wrote U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany. “Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to foot the bill for UW’s indoctrination. Every dollar should be tied to outcomes that help Wisconsin students land great jobs.”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Berrien, state Rep. Amanda Nedweski, state Sen. Rob Swearingen, and others further criticized the assignment.