President, Hudson Institute
John M. Olin Professor of Humanities, NYU
Author of the recently published book
Decade of Denial, Lexington Books
A recent report by Columbia University officials argues that, despite allegations of anti-semitism from some students in the Middle East Studies program, there isn’t substantial evidence of anti-semitism on campus. Moreover, notwithstanding claims of intimidation in the classroom, there is corroboration of only one incident.
Having spoken to students in the Middle East Studies program, I’m persuaded the university report is a whitewash. There have been several incidents in the classroom that reliable student accounts can verify.
But that in my judgment is not the central point. Universities “ to state the obvious “ should be open to various points of view. I wouldn’t have the slightest objection to having a speaker address students with whom I vigorously disagree. The First Amendment accords certain guarantees about free speech that should not be abridged, unless, of course, these opinions represent a clear and present danger.
Yet it is one thing to defend the First Amendment free speech provision and quite another matter defending academic freedom. According to the 1940 AAUP (American Association of University Professors) statement about academic freedom, a professor should be free to express his views in an unrestrained way in the area of study in which he has expertise. In other words, the music instructor who chooses to comment on the privatization
of Social Security is not protected by academic freedom.
As a consequence, a proponent of the Flat Earth Society should be free to stand in the Columbia University Quad expressing his opinions. But these opinions do not translate into an appointment at Columbia’s Geology Department. Free speech and academic freedom often part company.
It should also be noted returning to the origin of academic freedom that it has two components: lehrfreiheit or the ability to teach freely in an area of scholarly competence and lernfreiheit or the right of a student to express himself free from intimidation or concern. While these conditions are subject to interpretation, their essence is transparently clear. Hence, I haven’t any problem with a professor expressing any opinion, however odious, outside the classroom. Once in the classroom that professor is obliged by dint of his professional obligations to restrict his commentary to areas in which he has demonstrated competence. He must also maintain an environment in which students are free to engage in open discussion without the fear of intimidation.
In considering events at Columbia, at least how they have been reported in the student paper and the national press, there has been a conflation between free speech and academic freedom. From what I can determine the opinions expressed by the professors in the Middle East Studies program, which diverge wildly from my own, deserve First Amendment protection. However, if intimidation in the classroom was a condition of the learning experience “ a condition I believe occurred more than once” the professor(s) in question must be held accountable as violators of academic freedom.
It is distinctly inappropriate for professors to seek cover from academic freedom when in the process of teaching they have violated one of is key precepts. Either a professor adheres to his professional responsibilities to avoid an aura of intimidation or he negates those responsibilities and cannot be protected by academic freedom in the classroom. Unfortunately the distinction I’ve described has been beclouded by an excessive use of the word freedom and the avoidance of duty and responsibility. Alas, to make matters worse, one might assume that academics would understand these refinements, but unfortunately that isn’t the case.
Perhaps this ignorance suggests a great deal about university life today and why the issue arose in the first place.
SPME welcomes comments on this piece by sending your comments to spme@yahoogroups.com with your name, academic affiliation and department or other identifying information. Nothing will be published without identifying information.
