Assault on Academic Freedom at OSU

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

>Date: Tue, 9 May 2000 10:44:49 -0400
>To: Ed.Ray at admin.ohio-state.edu
>From: "Keith M. Kilty" <kkilty at pop.service.ohio-state.edu>
>Subject: Assault on Academic Freedom at OSU
>Cc:
>Bcc:
>X-Attachments:
>
>Edward J. Ray, Provost
>203 Bricker Hall
>190 North Oval Mall
>
>
>Dear Ed,
>
>I am deeply concerned about the future of academic freedom at the 
>Ohio State University.  In the "Message from the President" that we 
>received dated May 7, there were statements that indicate that 
>central administration has decided to dictate to faculty what and 
>how and where they may teach.  I have already brought my concerns to 
>the attention of President Kirwan, but the message also carried your 
>name.  In addition, there was an article in today's Dispatch that 
>raises further alarm.
>
>According to The Dispatch (May 9, 2000, p. B2), "In a full-page 
>advertisement yesterday in The Lantern,  the OSU student newspaper, 
>students were told to expect classes to meet 'in a normal fashion' 
>and were asked to contact vice provosts 'if you feel that your 
>instructors are not respecting your right to the education for which 
>you have registered and paid.'"
>
>I am shocked.  Is central administration beginning a witch hunt to 
>identify dissenters?  I don't know what else I can conclude from 
>this assault on academic freedom and due process.  How will such 
>complaints be handled?  Do students have to identify themselves?  If 
>accusations are made against faculty for not "respecting the rights 
>of a student to the education for which they have registered and 
>paid," will faculty then be given the names of accusers?  Will 
>faculty be given an opportunity to defend themselves?  What is the 
>intent of this statement, other than fear and intimidation of the 
>many people on this campus who do not support central 
>adminstration's position on the strike?
>
>I teach a GEC course titled "Minority Perspectives" (Social Work 
>300) where I get complaints (i.e., accusations) from students that I 
>am anti-white and anti-male.  Others feel that I do not give proper 
>credence to "creationism," since I do not consider it legitimate 
>science.  When values and beliefs are challenged, especially around 
>issues such as race or gender or sexual orientation or biological 
>determinism, some people have difficulty in dealing with that and 
>will respond with complaints, often anonymously.  I do not take such 
>complaints seriously, although I encourage students to raise their 
>concerns in class where we can have an open discussion. 
>Unfortunately, many are not willing to do so; rather, they prefer to 
>make complaints against people behind their backs.
>
>Now it appears that central administration is deliberately fostering 
>a McCarthy-like atmosphere of hostility and fear and intimidation to 
>silence disagreement.  I hope that is not the case.  Academic 
>freedom and due process are fundamental principles of academic life, 
>especially in the classroom.  How can we develop and maintain a 
>quality curriculum if we must contend with a system where students 
>are encouraged to make complaints because they feel they are not 
>being respected?  That is a broad and nebulous position that central 
>administration advocated in yesterday's Lantern.
>
>This is a sad day in the history of the Ohio State University.  Is 
>the goal of central administration to divide and conquer?  To pit 
>students against faculty?  Students against staff?  Faculty against 
>staff?  To create an atmosphere of fear?  To deny academic freedom 
>and due process?  I sincerely hope not.
>
>A great institution of higher education must be committed to 
>academic freedom and due process, to fostering an atmosphere of open 
>discussion, even when that open discussion involves challenges to 
>basic values and beliefs, even to the positions of institutional 
>authorities themselves.
>
>I call on you now to stand firm for academic freedom at the Ohio 
>State University, to make a clear and public statement supporting 
>and affirming the commitment of this institution to this principle.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Keith M. Kilty
>Professor of Social Work and Chair, Committee A, OSU/AAUP

******************************************************************************

       Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute

            rejection of authority.

                         - Thomas Huxley

Keith Kilty

kkilty at osu.edu
********************************************************************** 
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