The 29 papers in this collection celebrate academic freedom at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and are organized around the 1894 "trial" of Richard T. Ely, an economist who was exonerated of fomenting unrest and discussing "dangerous" ideas in a Board of Regents Statement which stressed the importance of "sifting and…

Discussion of academic freedom and college teacher dismissal first examines the expectations that institutions should have of faculty, traces the history of academic freedom in America, and looks at conditions that might constitute adequate cause for teacher dismissal. Examples are drawn from court litigation. Catalysts in the institutional…

Teachers' rights to engage in religious activities may not be as extensive as students' rights. Students may participate in religious clubs on school premises so long as the school permits other noncurricular, student-initiated clubs to meet during noninstructional time. Courts' confusing forum analysis complicates the picture. (Contains 22…

Case citations from federal and state court decisions concerning freedom of speech in schools are organized in five major sections with brief summaries of relevant cases in subcategories followed by a table of cases cited. The major sections are as follows: (1) "Employees' Freedom of Expression: Academic Issues" (Virginia Davis Nordin);…

A discussion of sexual harassment on American college campuses focuses on the case of Silva v. University of New Hampshire. The article examines the university's responsibility to protect students from sexual harassment while at the same time protecting freedom of expression. Various examples are presented in an attempt to define sexual…

An analysis of policy documents from six national organizations that promote intellectual and academic freedom for teachers and students supports the need for school systems to develop and articulate guidelines for addressing challenges to instructional methods and materials used in the schools. Recommended actions are discussed. (SM)

Before 1980, academic-freedom litigation favored teachers over school boards. As a 1998 case involving termination of a popular creative-writing teacher shows, today's judges rely on decision makers' judgement. Courts view academic freedom as the province of school boards and administrators, who determine how it is exercised. (MLH)

Both freedom of speech and freedom from discrimination are generally accepted expressions of public policy. The application of these policies, however, leads to conflicts that pose both practical and conceptual problems. This paper presents a review of court litigation and addresses the question of how to reconcile the conflicting societal goals…

"Kemp v. Ervin" examined the balance between the 1st and 14th amendment rights of untenured faculty at a state university against dismissal for being threatening to the institution. Discusses the implications of the case, which strengthens the hands of teaching professionals concerned with pressure by financial and entertainment…

Teachers and other public employees enjoy the same fundamental rights as other citizens. They are entitled to free speech--though the privilege is not limitless--and to due process and equal protection under the law. (Author/DCS)

Warns that higher education, particularly in the humanities, has become politicized. Argues that restrictions on the freedom of speech of professors and students in the name of feminist and antiracist ideologies are one-sided examples of "political correctness." Contends that the humanities are diminished by such politicalization and…

Court decisions regarding the right of teachers to select instructional materials and methods show teachers have some authority, as do administrators and boards of education. None of the groups has limitless power. Offers guidelines to help prevent misunderstandings and conflicts. (MLF)

Presents a hypothetical case to explore the legal issues involved when university students, professors, and the institution itself all assert their right to academic freedom. (EV)

The background on academic freedom in the United States and the current situation are discussed by former North Carolina Governor and Duke University President Terry Sanford. Academic freedom had not been established in the United States even as late as the beginning of the 20th century. In fact, the meaning of academic freedom or faculty rights…

Political repression of faculty members and the use of an archive of records to help remedy this phenomenon are discussed. The focus is the use of coercion to compel the behavior of politically dissident faculty members, particularly by the use of dismissal. The archive of records would indicate faculty members fired, not hired, or harassed for…