Thursday, October 20, 2005

FIRE Update: October 20, 2005

Table of Contents
 
1.
National Media Concentrate on Academic Repression
2.
Recent Media Coverage
3.
Recent Posts to The Torch
4.
Upcoming Events
NATIONAL MEDIA CONCENTRATE ON CAMPUS REPRESSION

FIRE Cases in Focus Across the Country

FIRE’s work to defend liberty on campus continues to garner national attention. Three influential publications with diverse readerships—The National Law Journal, U.S. News & World Report, and National Review—dedicate pages of coverage to FIRE’s ongoing cases that involve such important issues as freedom of the student press, “dispositions theory,” and professorial academic freedom.

In an op-ed published in The National Law Journal, FIRE Vice Chairman Harvey A. Silverglate warns of the imminent assault on the student press if the Seventh Circuit’s disastrous en banc decision in Hosty v. Carter is allowed to stand. The decision diminishes the rights of college journalists to the status of those granted to high school newspapers and would therefore destroy the independent student press. FIRE is leading a broad coalition of civil libertarians in support of students’ rights as the decision is appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The October 24 issues of U.S. News & World Report and National Review cover many of the other battles currently facing FIRE. In U.S. News & World Report, columnist John Leo tackles the totalitarian implications of “dispositions theory.” He describes how FIRE intervened to prevent Brooklyn College Professor K. C. Johnson from being investigated for merely criticizing the theory and how FIRE pressured Washington State University’s College of Education to drop its requirement that dissenting student Ed Swan sign an unconstitutional contract intended to force him to learn the correct “disposition.” John J. Miller’s article in National Review portrays the DePaul University administration’s disturbing campaign against Professor Thomas Klocek that culminated in his suspension without due process, which FIRE condemned as a brazen affront to academic freedom.

RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE

U.S. News & World Report, October 24, "Class(room) Warriors," by John Leo

It is called dispositions theory, and it was set forth five years ago by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education: Future teachers should be judged by their “knowledge, skills, and dispositions.” What are “dispositions”? NCATE’s prose made clear that they are the beliefs and attitudes that guide a teacher toward a moral stance. That sounds harmless enough, but it opened a door to reject teaching candidates on the basis of thoughts and beliefs.

National Review, October 24, "Pariahs, Martyrs — and Fighters Back," by John J. Miller

“She told me she couldn’t guarantee the behavior of the students,” says Klocek. “She was basically threatening me with protests.” He decided against returning to DePaul, and in June he filed a lawsuit against his former employers. “This is one of the most brazen violations of academic freedom that I’ve seen,” says David French of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a watchdog group.

Associated Press, October 20, "WSU Education Department studying 'litmus test'," by E. Kirsten Peters

Washington State University is reviewing its policies on evaluating the character of students in the teacher training program after a student alleged the College of Education was biased against conservatives.

Moscow-Pullman Daily News, October 19, "National columnist attacks WSU," by E. Kirsten Peters

The test for “good character” in the College of Education at Washington State University has drawn national attention in a piece published this week in U.S News and World Report.

Moscow-Pullman Daily News, October 19, "WSU responds to evaluation criticisms," by E. Kirsten Peters

The College of Education at Washington State University is considering how it may change its policies regarding the evaluation of “good character” for students in the teacher-training program.

The Daily Evergreen (WSU), October 18, "Challenging campus free speech through theater," by Elizabeth Martin

Lee, a senior theatre major, will stay until he is 85 years old if he has to, he said. WSU has to learn students’ First Amendment rights before he leaves.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 17, "Bad Frog Beer to 'intelligent design'," by Amy Worden

His biggest case until now also was a First Amendment challenge. The student plaintiffs at Shippensburg University in 2003 argued that their rights were violated when the university stopped them from putting up anti-Osama bin Laden posters, saying they were banned under the university's speech code.

The National Law Journal, October 17, "Assault on College Press," by Harvey Silverglate

If the 7th Circuit opinion stands, student newspapers could quickly become house organs, like alumni magazines, rather than independent forums of news and opinion. The independent student press at public colleges and universities would all but vanish, and not only in the Midwest. As the certiorari petition portends, the 7th Circuit’s opinion “threatens to restrict substantially the freedom of expression on college and university campuses throughout the nation.”

The Badger-Herald (UW-Madison), October 13, "In-Depth: Letter and the law," by Sundeep Malladi

“Any rule that says you must allow your membership to be open to everyone violates free association,” said Foundation for Individual Rights in Education President David French. “The nondiscrimination policy cannot trump the First Amendment.”

Agape Press, October 7, "FIRE Denounces Arizona State's Reintroduction of Segregated Classes," by Jim Brown

For the second time in less than four years, Arizona State University is limiting certain classes to “Native American” students only. However, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) is accusing the university of racial segregation and has written a letter to the school, demanding that the classes be opened to all students.

More media coverage at thefire.org »
RECENT POSTS TO THE TORCH

October 19, "Indefensible Dispositions," David French

October 19, "‘Hosty v. Carter’: Promise Kept, Brief Filed," Charles Mitchell

October 19, "Washington State’s Latest Spin," Charles Mitchell

October 18, "Police State U," Greg Lukianoff

October 14, "Feelings vs. Freedom," Charles Mitchell

Read The Torch at thefire.org »

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 20: Speech at Bucknell University, Gallery Theatre, Lewisburg, Pa., 7 p.m. (ET). Topic: “How Bucknell Can Restore Free Speech and Freedom of Conscience.” (French)

October 22: Speech at the Collegiate Network Editors’ Conference. Topic: ”Breaking the Monopoly: The Value of the Free Press at Ideologically Monolithic Universities.” (French)

November 1: Debate with The Boston Globe’s Jeff Jacoby about the USA PATRIOT Act and its effect on civil liberties, Rockford College, Rockford, Ill., 7 p.m. (CT). (Silverglate)

November 4: Speech at the New England Appellate Judges Conference, John Adams Courthouse, Boston. Topic: Free speech and academic freedom in higher education. (Silverglate)

More upcoming events at thefire.org »
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