Shiell, Timothy C. 1959-

PERSONAL: Born April 11, 1959, in Fergus Falls, MN; son of James (a minister) and Ethel (a book editor) Shiell; married August 14, 1982; wife's name Carolyn; children: Mackenzie, Ethan. Education: Moorhead State University, B.A., 1982; University of Iowa, Ph.D., 1988. Religion: Lutheran. Hobbies and other interests: Soccer (playing, coaching, refereeing).

ADDRESSES: Home—309 E. Grant, Eau Claire, WI 54701. Office—Department of English and Philosophy, University of Wisconsin—Stout, Menomonie, WI 54751; fax: 715-232-2093. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Visiting assistant professor at Springfield College, Springfield, MA, State University of New York College at Oswego, Oswego, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, and Northern Michigan University, Marquette, between 1988 and 1992; University of Wisconsin—Stout, Menomonie, assistant professor, 1992–95, associate professor, 1996–99, professor, 2000–, Maybelle Ranney Price Professor, 1998–99, Reinhold and Borghild Dalhgren Professor, 2003–05, director of Center for Ethics, 1999–2003, faculty member with Wisconsin-in-Scotland Program, 2000. Conference and workshop presenter; judge of collegiate "ethics bowls"; public speaker; guest on media programs. Eau Claire Luther Hospital, member of ethics committee, 2004–.

MEMBER: Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, American Philosophical Association, Association of University of Wisconsin Professionals (local president, 2005–06).

AWARDS, HONORS: Grant, National Endowment for the Humanities, 1994; certificate of excellence in teaching, American Philosophical Association, 1995.

WRITINGS:

Legal Philosophy: Selected Readings, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (Orlando, FL), 1993.

Campus Hate Speech on Trial, University Press of Kansas (Lawrence, KS), 1998.

Contributor to books, including Liberalism and Community, edited by Reynolds, Murphy, and Moffat, Edwin Mellen Press (Lewiston, NY), 1993; and Academic Freedom at the Dawn of a New Century: How Terrorism, Governments, and Culture Wars Impact Free Speech at Home and Abroad, edited by Evan Gerstmann and Matthew Streb, Stanford University Press (Stanford, CA), 2006. Contributor of articles and reviews to periodicals, including Quarterly Public Affairs, History of Philosophy Quarterly, Michigan Academician, Naturalistic Humanism, and various newsletters.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Wisconsin Free Speech Legacy, an e-book.

SIDELIGHTS: When Timothy C. Shiell was a college undergraduate he made the discovery that he had things to say that others would be interested to hear. This prompted his decision to put his thoughts down in writing. He has gone on to contribute numerous articles to several journals and periodicals. In 1998, after five years of intense research, he published Campus Hate Speech on Trial. This book focuses on the controversial issue of freedom of speech versus the right of universities and campuses to restrict hate messages. David M. Rabban, a writer in the Journal of American History, cited Shiell for writing "an extremely valuable book for anyone interested in a balanced treatment of the background of campus speech codes, the experience under them and the difficult issues they pose."

Shiell sets the stage by discussing the tense atmosphere that can be created on campuses by the spread of hate messages involving race, gender, and other issues. Faced with the dangerous possibility of violence, many universities chose to adopt speech codes, which place restrictions on hate messages. These speech codes, however, are in direct violation of freedom of speech, a right guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In fact, in several trials, courts have ruled against the universities on the grounds that they cannot place limits on constitutionally protected rights. To add yet another complication to the issue is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which guarantees the right to a safe working environment free from racial and sexual harassment. In effect, the right of free speech granted by the First Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act are in direct conflict with each other on the issue of hate speech.

Shiell addresses each point of view equally in discussing the many issues involved in this complicated matter, according to Rabban. He makes an analysis of the historical, legal, and philosophical backgrounds of both sides of the argument, as well as discussing the speech codes of specific schools, such as the University of Michigan and Stanford University. As noted by Daniel Lessard Levin in the Law and Politics Book Review, Shiell "treats all of the various arguments for and against hate speech codes with respect, and is careful to label his own arguments as such rather than intruding them in his analysis of other points of view." Robert M. O'Neil, writing in Academe, noted Shiell's "extensive research," and Library Journal contributor Stephen L. Hupp called the book "well-written," noting it should be "required for anyone interested in the debate" on speech codes in higher education.

In the final chapter of the book, Shiell offers his own opinions and thoughts as to how the problem can be handled. He sides against the use of school codes, cautioning that such codes can be a double-edged sword and be used against the people they are supposed to protect. He also suggests that schools should only regulate hate speech when it targets specific individuals, or individuals in a captive audience, has no bearing on academic issues, and is connected to illegal acts. As Levin concluded: "This book serves as a respectful guide to a contentious issue, and is a worthwhile read for anyone in an academic institution whether or not constitutional law is his or her area of specialty."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Academe, January-February, 1999, Robert M. O'Neil, review of Campus Hate Speech on Trial, pp. 65-66.

Boston University Public Interest Law Journal, spring, 1999, Melanie Jacobs, review of Campus Hate Speech on Trial, pp. 579-584.

Choice, November, 1998, M. Curtis, review of Campus Hate Speech on Trial, p. 604.

Ethics, January, 2001, review of Campus Hate Speech on Trial, p. 456.

Journal of American History, June, 1999, David M. Rabban, review of Campus Hate Speech on Trial, pp. 338-339.

Journal of Communication, June, 2001, review of Campus Hate Speech on Trial, p. 406.

Journal of Law and Communication, April, 1999, Jan Alan Neiger, review of Campus Hate Speech on Trial, pp. 304-308.

Law and Politics Book Review, August, 1998, Daniel Lessard Levin, review of Campus Hate Speech on Trial, pp. 345-347.

Library Journal, June 1, 1998, Stephen L. Hupp, review of Campus Hate Speech on Trial, p. 133.

Michigan Community College Journal, spring, 2000, Mary Wagner, "Two Sides: The Scope of Free Speech and Hate Speech in the Community College" (interview), pp. 22-36.

Reference and Research Book News, November, 1998, review of Campus Hate Speech on Trial, p. 153.