Northwestern University erased its connection to long-time columnist Joseph Epstein after he published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal that was critical of Jill Biden’s use of the honorific, “Doctor.”
Epstein argued that Jill Biden—who holds a doctorate in education rather than medical science—should consider dropping the title since she is not a medical doctor.
He asserted that among academics in social sciences and humanities, use of the title was now considered to be pretensions and “bush league.”
Epstein’s column drew sharp criticism from Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s team, which decried Epstein as a “sexist” for trying to “diminish” Jill Biden’s academic accomplishments.
Northwestern University agreed with the Biden camp, releasing a statement distancing itself from Epstein and condemning his “misogynistic views.”
“Northwestern is firmly committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and strongly disagrees with Mr. Epstein’s misogynistic views,” the university said in a statement.
It noted that Epstein “was never a tenured professor at NU and has not been a lecturer here since 2002.”
Northwestern also removed Epstein’s name from its website.
It appears Northwestern University’s English Department has removed Joseph Epstein’s profile from its website.
Earlier today, he was listed as an “emeritus lecturer.” pic.twitter.com/XBZI8ZbN1B
— David Gura (@davidgura) December 13, 2020
Biden’s spokesman Michael LaRosa called Epstein’s op-ed a “disgusting and sexist attack” and demanded that the Wall Street Journal publish an apology.
.@jamestaranto, you and the @WSJ should be embarrassed to print the disgusting and sexist attack on @DrBiden running on the @WSJopinion page. If you had any respect for women at all you would remove this repugnant display of chauvinism from your paper and apologize to her.
— Michael LaRosa (@MichaelLaRosaDC) December 12, 2020
Jill Biden also responded to the op-ed without naming Epstein directly.
Together, we will build a world where the accomplishments of our daughters will be celebrated, rather than diminished.
— Dr. Jill Biden (@DrBiden) December 14, 2020
