Wednesday, March 30, 2005

DAVID T. BEITO: Building a Left/Right Coalition for Academic Freedom. Donald A. Downs, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin, has written an excellent piece for the Independent Institute urging the right and the left to cooperate against mutual threats to academic freedom. I couldn't agree more: The recent Harvard University faculty vote of “no confidence” for university president Lawrence Summers and the call for the resignation of University of Colorado’s Ward Churchill point to a return of... [Liberty & Power: Group Blog] From the article by Downs: All of these cases reflect the political imbalance of faculties nationwide and the politically selective way in which some on the left have reacted to the most prominent threats to free speech and academic freedom on campus. Conservatives have borne the brunt of speech codes and related policies, and have comprised the vast majority of speakers who have been shouted down when they enter the campus public forum. Too many on the left have not spoken out against such forms of censorship, probably because the other side's ox was being gored. Indeed, Churchill himself has obstructed Columbus Day parades, claiming that they represent "hate speech." He was no champion of free speech until his own speech came under attack. But the last thing American campuses need is censorship from the right piling onto the preexisting censorship from the left. Universities will not regain the public trust that they have squandered until they stand up and defend the principles of free speech and academic freedom for everyone, regardless of their politics. 12:30:40 PM    comment ()

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