HOUSTON, Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — College students today protested the promotion of climate activist Dr. Michael Mann at a Rice University Baker Institute for Public Policy event, holding signs with slogans like “Hands off my future!,” “Dr. Mann hates debate,” and “Limp Stick Energy.”
“Elevating Michael Mann at an institution of higher learning is completely counterintuitive,” said Rice University undergraduate Cristobal Spielmann. “He has repeatedly demonstrated that questioning his version of consensus gets you labeled a climate denier, whom he calls ‘horrible people…typically bigoted, xenophobic, racist, misogynistic, homophobic, antisemitic’ – if not sued. We reject his oppressive tactics and narrow worldview.”
Mann rose to prominence as the lead author of a report that was the first to estimate climate trends using what the New York Times called a “grab bag of evidence.” It included what became known as the “hockey stick” graph depicting an upward spike in temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere. Leaked emails from the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit later showed Mann working with others to suppress climate debate even as he withheld data from analysts seeking to replicate his findings. He has filed lawsuits against people and media organizations for criticizing him.
“We’ve been taught that testing, challenging and modifying hypotheses, and retesting are all part of the scientific method,” said CFACT Collegian activist Nicolas Walker. “Yet Dr. Mann treats questions and requests for data as attacks rather than rigorous intellectual challenges. He has bullied, sued, and tried to censor people who dare to disagree with him, both publicly and behind the scenes. Now he’s touting a book that encourages everyone to act like him.”
The students have a simple message: college campuses should be sponsors of debate, not celebrating people like Mann who shut it down.
“We are extremely proud of our college students for standing up to Michael Mann’s demonstrated bullying tactics by refusing to accept debate being treated as dangerous and anti-science,” said Nate Myers, National Collegians Director. “Where can inquiry thrive if not on campus?”
MEDIA CONTACT: Judy Kent, 703-477-7476, jkent@cfact.org
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SOURCE Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow
