James Tracy’s controversial blog shut down
Web hosting company suspends former communication professor’s website for an undisclosed terms of service violation.
James Tracy claimed that FAU fired him because of controversial conspiracy theories he shared on his blog. Photo by Michelle Friswell
November 30, 2016
A former communication professor who claims he was fired from Florida Atlantic for having his free speech rights violated has had his website silenced, for now.
James Tracy’s Memory Hole Blog was temporarily shut down by web hosting company Bluehost, according to a tweet from Tracy’s Twitter account on Nov. 23.
.@bluehost has officially shut down @memoryholeblog More info to come. pic.twitter.com/AqqcLnf0IV
— James Tracy (@memoryholeblog) November 23, 2016
Visitors to the site now receive a message that states: “This site has been archived or suspended for a violation of our Terms of Service.”
According to its privacy policy, Bluehost is not allowed to comment to third parties on the statuses of other users’ domains.
The blog brought Tracy national attention due to his claims that the Sandy Hook massacre and several other mass shooting incidents were hoaxes carried out by the U.S. government.
Tracy previously taught in the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies for 14 years before being terminated in December of 2015 for not submitting a “Report of Outside Employment or Professional Activity Form,” which lists any extra money an employee makes outside of the university, such as freelance or coaching jobs. The form was required by the faculty collective bargaining agreement.
Tracy filed a lawsuit on April 26 in federal court against the university and faculty union after claiming that the school wrongly terminated him for practicing his First Amendment rights.
The University Press reached out to Tracy for comment, but did not receive a response as of publication time.
Joe Pye is the news editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @jpeg3189
Scott Royer • Oct 27, 2017 at 3:00 am
When University Professors are fired over what are essentially political writing writings, on trumped up charges, it sends the signal to every other professional to keep your mouth shut. When personal online blogs are shut down, it further implies that very powerful forces are at work to silence and erase certain observations and points of view.
Professor Tracy is not being persecuted because he has his facts wrong. He is being silenced because he is spot on.
MrTuvok • Dec 11, 2016 at 12:33 pm
I believe that you fail to point out that not even Tracy himself got to know the reason behind the suspension of their services.
Both Kafka and Orwell come to mind.
Internet Sleuth • Dec 8, 2016 at 9:31 pm
News stories at the time made it very clear. Florida statutes require state universities to monitor certain employee activities (paid or not) to identify potential conflicts of interest such and certain financial activities which must be reported. To assist in accomplishing this FAU mandates an annual Report of Outside Activity which is included in the faculty collective bargaining agreement as a job requirement. As I have read and heard from some faculty, Mr. Tracy did not complete the required form for several recent years and when given the opportunity to do so – even though late – he flatly refused. This lead to a charge of insubordination which was the eventual cause of his firing. He wasn’t fired for the blog, his theories, or not filing a form. But rather for direct, repeated refusals to follow the union contract and valid orders from the university.
Joseph C. Miroddi • Dec 6, 2016 at 8:51 pm
There are a number of disturbing issues present here.
*Where are the academic voices crying out in righteous indignation at what has come to pass upon a fellow colleague? How can academia stand idly by without pushing back against what is clearly the result of violating an unspoken gag order on presenting opposing viewpoints on Sandy Hook and other fantastical events?
I guess they are over educated. Too many degrees to be able to think and reason for themselves. Sometimes I am quite satisfied with my G.E.D.
*F.A.U. is cowering behind the ROEPAF charge. Is there anyone who does not understand completely why Jim Tracy was fired?
I can go to work on my construction job and tell all that Sandy Hook was a lie, and at most I will suffer ridicule. No heat is put on employers like mine to tow the official line. Unfortunately for those in Dr. Tracy’s public position, rocking the boat will result in capsize.
But again, how do all of you other professors out there sleep at night?
Peter Grafström • Dec 2, 2016 at 6:07 pm
Eror message from memoryholeblog a couple of days ago showed the following text:
“memorygapdotorg.wordpress.com is no longer available.
This site has been archived or suspended for a violation of our Terms of Service.
For more information and to contact us please read this support document….”
The ‘dotorg’ part is a good one.
Before and after that the error messages didnt ring russian
Foghorn • Dec 1, 2016 at 6:54 pm
Joe Pye,
Seriously?
You’re seriously trying to convince us that a university would terminate a tenured associate professor for, wait for it, not filing an outside employment form?
I was going to label you a perfect journalistic hack but noone’s perfect.
sunaj • Dec 1, 2016 at 4:27 pm
Here-Here for Dr. Tracy,
this was a cowardly act by BlueHost and I recommend citizens cancel their accounts and file complaints with BlueHost
Petra Liverani • Nov 30, 2016 at 8:12 pm
Outrageious. Sandy Hook, like so many other “Full-Scale Exercises” was so obviously faked it’s so completely laughable that it’s being perpetuated like this. What absolute gall. Self-Promotion –> http://laverite.weebly.com/