At the annual gathering of the Modern Language Association (MLA), panel members seemed to talk past each other. Mark Bauerlein and David Horowitz each criticized the professoriate for not acknowledging real problems in the classroom or the ways identity politics can infringe on academic freedom. Norma V. Canti and Cary Nelson did not respond to the problems suggested by Bauerlein and Horowitz, but offered defenses of academic freedom as essential for higher education, especially as rising numbers of adjunct faculty members lack customary protections. Discussion devolved to challenges from the audience regarding inclusion of Horowitz, who was charged by the MLA Radical Caucus as consistently misrepresenting the views of academics whom he wishes to discredit, in the first place. Ultimately, MLA President Gerald Graff stepped up to bring the meeting back to substance. "The charge is whether professors are bullying students," said Graff during the question period, concurring with Bauerlein and Horowitz that more curiosity on the stated subject is needed.