A specter is haunting American universities—The specter of independent thought! America's right wing has reacted with shock and alarm at this phenomenon and they have mobilized an effort to undermine the intellectual freedom of American students through a campaign that utilizes intimidation and censorship. Consider this recent example from California:
The activist, Andrew Jones, said Monday he would continue his effort with unpaid volunteers.
Jones' Bruin Alumni Association had offered UCLA students up to $100 to supply tapes and notes from classes to expose professors he considered to be pushing liberal political views on their students.
After news reports about the plan, Jones was criticized by faculty members who complained of a "witch hunt." Several prominent members of his organization's advisory board, including a former congressman, resigned from the group after details of the payment plan became public. (full article)
In Ohio, there has been some recent legislation has been introduced which allegedly aims to create a so-called "Academic Bill of Rights." The bill purports to protect the "rights" of students but instead opens the door to extreme censorship and intellectual repression on college campuses. The ACLU is one of several groups to have taken issue with the effort, and they summarize the major concerns regarding Senate Bill 24 as follows:
· Under the bill, faculty would be discouraged from teaching anything "controversial" - a vague term that could pertain to any number of topics including evolution, history, or religion.
· If they do raise controversial issues, instructors would have to present alternative views regardless of the merits of those views or their own beliefs about them.
· Senate Bill 24 would shift the responsibility for course content and student evaluation from highly trained faculty to the state government or the courts. (full article) (full text of SB 24)
Whether these efforts are led by a lone individual, a political organization or elected officials, the ultimate goal remains the same: The elimination of dissent and diversity in all forums, both public and private.
It's hard to say when Americans will finally take a definitive stand against this new wave of McCarthyism. Perhaps it would do us well to reflect upon the words of Martin Niemöller:
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—
and there was no one left to speak out.
Joseph Welch to Joseph McCarthy, June 9, 1954:
"Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?"
American Association of University Professors statement on Academic Bill of Rights
Board members resign after group targets UCLA profs CNN.com article
McCarthy-Welch Exchange: "Have You No Sense of Decency" americanrhetoric.com
