I found it odd that a university professor himself seems to not get the distinction between belief and opinion. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, because an opinion can't be right or wrong by definition. The only beliefs to which one is entitled are those which can't, in principle, be shown to be true or false.
I think the choice of title for this article is largely rhetorical. Stoke's purpose was simply to underscore the point that opinions in his class are worth nothing unless you can defend them. It's worth mentioning, also, that the editors of The Conversation tend to decide what title the article will receive, rather than the author.
Stoke's purpose was simply to underscore the point that opinions in his class are worth nothing unless you can defend them.
that was my take as well.