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Freedom of Speech Challenged in Academia
March 23, 2005
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Ward Churchill, a professor at the University of Colorado who wrote an essay with a remark likening the victims of the 9/11 attacks to little Nazis, has had speeches cancelled all over the country. Universities are turning down chances to create a dialogue, rather, they are preferring to silence Ward Churchill completely. (See: College Cancels Speech by Controversial Professor)
Last month, Ohio state senate introduced a bill that would prohibit public university professors from addresses controversial topics in class. Senate bill 24, which claims to “protect the academic integrity of the students” actually limits classroom discussion and forbids “introducing controversial matter into the classroom.” In this way, Ohio is setting a precedent in gagging the professors and limiting campus discussion for students. (See: New Legislation Threat to Campus Free Speech)
A high school in Virginia cancelled a speech by a gay author, who was to come and speak to students about writing and goals. The students in the school’s Gay Straight Alliance, who planned the event, lost a chance to be represented, and the rest of the students lost a chance to meet a published author and discuss writing. (see: School Cancels Author’s Speech)
Last month, the New York City Department of Education barred Professor Rashid Khalidi of Columbia University from lecturing to teachers, due to “past statements” the pro-Palestinian professor made. The twelve- week program Professor Khalidi was barred from includes a week of lectures by visiting professors. The program is supposed to teach public school teachers about the Middle East so they in turn can teach their students. Professor Khalidi is the director of Columbia’s Middle East Institute.
New York lawmakers and the American Jewish Committee praised the decision, however, a large number of people questioned the barring. Marc Stern, director of legal affairs at the American Jewish Congress, for example, said, “It’s not as if we’re rejoicing that Khalidi gets an audience. But we don’t think the way to go about it is by treating Khalidi as if he is not qualified to teach on the Middle East.”
According to Nat Hentoff, a journalist and free-speech expert who is known to support Jewish students at Columbia who feel they are being intimidated by Pro-Palestinian professors, “Khalidi has been held up as a model teacher by some of the pro-Israel students who have complained about other Middle Eastern studies professors. In a guide to university courses compiled by Columbia students, known as Culpa, Khalidi’s teaching received a silver nugget, the second-highest award after the gold nugget.”
The controversy over Khalidi was sparked by a New York Sun article that quoted past remarks from Professor Khalidi that allegedly call Israel “a ‘racist’ state with an ‘apartheid system.” It was due to these remarks publicized in the headline of the article that made the New York City Department of Education (DOE) and its chancellor, Joel Klein, sever the relationship with the professor. The New York Sun lauded Joel Klein’s decision in an article made after Khalidi was barred.Columbia University is threatening to leave the program completely after the decision.
PEN USA is concerned by the disappearing free dialogue that used to exist in the academic world. Students and teachers should be learning that controversial opinions are made to be debated, not silenced.
Stephen Rohde, vice-president of Freedom to Write domestic and a lawyer specializing in First Amendment issues, said, “We pride ourselves on being an ‘Open Society’ and we say we want our colleges and universities to be the center of debate and discussion. But these are hollow words if we allow the forces of intolerance and censorship to prevent various viewpoints, no matter how controversial, to be expressed on campus. We do the students and the larger community a grave disservice by choking off the robust clash of ideas that is indispensable to our democracy.”
for more info:
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0511,hentoff,62031,6.html
http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/1675
Comments:
I was reading this article which calls Rashid Khalidi radical because he called the state of Israel racist. Well I personally have been to Israel and found it a bit racist myself. In Hebron, there are streets that only Jews can go on,if you are Palestinian Christian or Muslim you cannot enter. Is that not racist? There is even a group started by an Israeli soldier who mentions how racist Israel can be, his group is called “Breaking the Silence.” I just don’t think Khalidi should be potrayed in a violent viewed manner, I have met and spoken with him, he is not anti-Jew or anti-Israeli he just wants equality for his people, the Palestinians.