http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf?/business/pd/f09steel.html
Tom
Yoshie Furuhashi wrote:
> 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
> ******************************************************************************