FIRE Update: September 22, 2005

Table of Contents   September 22, 2005     1. FIRE Testifies to Pennsylvania Legislature 2. Recent Media Coverage 3. Recent Posts to The Torch 4. Upcoming Events FIRE TESTIFIES TO PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE FIRE President David French appeared before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on September 19 to discuss the state of liberty on Pennsylvania’s public campuses. Testifying to the bipartisan Select Committee on Student Academic Freedom, French explained that Pennsylvania’s public universities and colleges routinely disregard their legal obligation to respect the freedoms of speech, conscience, and religion. He recounted several examples of illiberal speech codes and other repressive polices enacted by administrations that would silence or otherwise punish individuals or groups for engaging in constitutionally protected expression or activities. (Please visit FIRE’s Spotlight to learn more about the policies and actions of Pennsylvania’s state schools.) Although House members formed the committee in response to complaints about political bias in the academy, French advised the committee to narrow its investigative focus to state colleges’ and universities’ institutional violations of the individual rights protected by the Constitution. He further urged the committee not to interfere with the academic freedom of either professors or students. FIRE hopes to use its reputation as a nonpartisan and principled advocate for civil liberties on campus to steer the direction of the debate toward a better understanding of the failure of Pennsylvania’s public universities and colleges to adhere to the fundamental principles of liberty. Please continue to check FIRE’s website for updates on FIRE’s involvement with the committee’s hearings. RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE The Exponent (Purdue Univ.), September 21, "Disciplinary processes will not change, despite recent events," by Brent Forgues Although it is common among universities to restrict the role of the attorney, that doesn't make it right, said David French, the president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. First Amendment Center, September 20, "Supreme Court asked to take up college-press case," by David L. Hudson, Jr. The U.S. Supreme Court could define and clarify how much First Amendment protection college and university newspapers possess — if it accepts review in the highly watched case Hosty v. Carter. Agape Press, September 20, "FIRE Protests Threatened 'Inquisition' of Brooklyn College's Dissenting Prof.," by Jim Brown A New York college recently accused of threatening to censor a dissenting professor claims it has remained firm in its commitment to academic freedom. Brooklyn College claims it has not begun an investigation of outspoken Professor KC Johnson; however, the statement comes after the instructor was warned he may face such an official investigation. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 20, "Academic rights panel told to watch where it steps," by Paul Peirce David French, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education in Philadelphia, told the Select Committee on Student Academic Freedom that as it studies whether students have had their academic rights violated by professors "you must make sure you do not violate the constitutional rights of professors." WorldNetDaily, September 15, "College backs off on dissenting professor" Faced with the threat of legal action, a New York City college pledged not to investigate a professor who objected to the school's policy of requiring education students be committed to a particular definition of "social justice." Agage Press, September 13, " Dissenting Professor Faces Possible 'Integrity Committee' Investigation," by Jim Brown A campus watchdog group says a dissenting professor at Brooklyn College in New York is being unfairly targeted by administrators for accusing faculty members of indoctrination and viewpoint discrimination. Rocky Mountain News, September 10, "Prof's protest of 'political litmus test' raises hackles," by Linda Seebach Such criticism is clearly within the boundaries of academic freedom (after all, Ward Churchill of the University of Colorado is in trouble because of other allegations; he got an official pass on "little Eichmanns"). Johnson's criticism may be mistaken, but it should be taken seriously and the facts alleged either confirmed or denied. The Chronicle of Higher Education, September 9, "U.S. Court Says Southern Illinois U. Can't Bar Christian Group," by Elizabeth Farrell Southern Illinois University at Carbondale cannot deny official university recognition to a campus Christian group, according to a preliminary injunction issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. University officials had revoked the Christian Legal Society's university privileges last semester after deciding that the group's stance on homosexuality violated antidiscrimination laws. The Chronicle of Higher Education, September 9, "The Chill Is Nothing New," by Greg Lukianoff Some would like to imagine that the excesses of "political correctness” are ancient history, but repression in the name of tolerance hasn't gone anywhere. Oppressive speech codes are not only still around—they have actually multiplied, even after numerous court decisions declared them unconstitutional. More media coverage at thefire.org » RECENT POSTS TO THE TORCH September 21, "A Commission, Eh?," Charles Mitchell September 21, "The Trouble with ‘Dispositions’," David French September 19, "FIRE v. ‘Hosty’," Charles Mitchell September 14, "Professor’s First Amendment Rights Upheld at Brooklyn College," Samantha Harris September 13, "This Month in FIRE History: Victory at RIC, Part 1," Greg Lukianoff Read The Torch at thefire.org » UPCOMING EVENTS October 14, Speech at the University of Alabama’s Bankhead Fund Conference. Topic: “Academic Freedom and Religious Liberty for the Contemporary Professor.” (French) October 20, Speech at Bucknell University, Gallery Theatre, Lewisburg, Pa., 7:30 p.m. (ET). Topic: “How Bucknell Can Restore Free Speech and Freedom of Conscience.” (French) More upcoming events at thefire.org » About This Newsletter This newsletter may be redistributed in its entirety. If you would like to subscribe to receive future newsletters, please sign up here. Please direct any comments or questions concerning this newsletter to: subscriptions@thefire.org. Copyright © 2005, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education Donate Now · Privacy Policy

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