Northwestern Distances From Joseph Epstein After Jill Biden OpEd

EVANSTON, IL — Northwestern University is distancing itself from Joseph Epstein, whom the school as recently as Saturday listed as an "emeritus lecturer." Epstein penned an editorial that appeared in the Wall Street Journal on Saturday suggesting soon-to-be first lady Jill Biden, who has earned a doctorate of education, should not be referred to as a doctor because she does not hold a medical degree.

"While we firmly support academic freedom and freedom of expression, we do not agree with Mr. Epstein’s opinion and believe the designation of doctor is well deserved by anyone who has earned a Ph.D., an Ed.D. or an M.D.," Northwestern said in a statement. "Northwestern is firmly committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and strongly disagrees with Mr. Epstein’s misogynistic views."

Epstein said he taught at Northwestern for 30 years in his editorial. He said Biden referring to herself as a doctor "feels fraudulent, even comic."

"A wise man once said that no one should call himself 'Dr.' unless he has delivered a child. Think about it, Dr. Jill, and forthwith drop the doc," Epstein wrote, after addressing Biden as "kiddo."

Northwestern said Epstein has not been a lecturer at the school since 2003. But David Gura, a reporter for NPR, said Epstein was listed as an "emeritus lecturer" on the Northwestern website as recently as Saturday.

Epstein's school profile page on the school's website had been deleted by Sunday morning.

Northwestern's English department made its own statement opposing Epstein's views. The statement said Epstein's opinion piece "casts unmerited aspersion on Dr. Jill Biden's rightful public claiming of her doctoral credentials and expertise.

"The department rejects this opinion as well as the diminishment of anyone's duly-earned degrees in any field, from any university."

The weekend's editorial was not the first published by Epstein in the Wall Street Journal. In 2019, he wrote about the cost of college.