When the news broke in the "New York Times" in August 2009 that Yale University Press had decided to remove twelve Danish cartoon images of the prophet Mohammed from "The Cartoons That Shook the World," a forthcoming book by Brandeis political scientist Jytte Klausen, the author felt that the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)…

In early 1909, just over a hundred years ago, the Spokane, Washington, branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) got a reputation as a "singing union." Later that year, the same Spokane branch of the IWW embarked on a massive free speech fight. IWW agitators would arrive on street corners, call on the crowds not to pay for…

In the past, administrators have sometimes cited the lack of balance represented by the invitation of a college or university group or the danger that a group's invitation might violate section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as reasons for canceling or modifying otherwise legitimate invitations. In "Academic Freedom and Outside…

The authors who happened to be moderators of academic online discussions bring tales from the trenches. Whether it's computational chemistry, the history of the book, or women's studies, the technology and the users can both prove difficult. The first author talks about two scholarly discussion lists. SHARP-L, whose name comes from the Society for…

The principle, in the author's mind, is simple enough--to allow expression on campus when it is not hateful or defamatory or threatening, and to encourage it when it is civil and open-minded and of probable interest to some members of the community. The devil lies in the practice. In this article, the author discusses various issues that have…

In this article, the author examines the newly revised speakers policy in Boston College. The revised policy, defended by administrators as being consistent with past practice, differs in two important respects from the speakers policy it replaced. Lest the scope of this unfortunate policy be exaggerated, it is important to note that the policy…

Since its founding, the American Association of University Professors has been concerned with infringements of academic freedom when colleges interfere with invited speakers. The first time the AAUP seems to have addressed the problem categorically, however, was through a resolution adopted fifty years ago by the annual meeting. The Association…

The question of whether someone can be sued for supposedly libelous statements in a solicited letter of recommendation is discussed. Defamation cases are being made harder for plaintiffs to win, since the Supreme Court's recognition that libel cases raise important free speech issues. (MLW)

New challenges to the old ideal of academic freedom suggest that its traditional defense is inadequate, and must be connected to the ideal of ethical individualism. Compromises to academic freedom and freedom of speech generally should involve the distinction between doing deliberate harm to others, which is not protected, and some perceived right…

Whenever we decide that racist speech must be tolerated because of the importance of maintaining societal tolerance for all unpopular speech, we are asking socially subordinated groups to bear the burden of racism for the good of all. Those who pay the price must be fairly represented. (MSE)

Current efforts to place new limits on freedom of expression on campuses, however well intentioned, are incompatible with the mission and meaning of a university and send exactly the wrong message from academia to society. Universities should exhibit more, not less, freedom of expression than prevails in society at large. (MSE)

This article contains the transcript of a speech that Robert ONeil delivered on June 12 in Washington, D.C., at the Ninetieth Annual Meeting of the American Association of University Professors. ONeil is professor of law and former president of the University of Virginia, where he directs the Thomas Jefferson Center for Protection of Free…

The advent of electronic and digital communication as an integral part of academic discourse has profoundly changed the ways in which universities and their faculties pursue teaching and scholarship. Such changes are manifest in the methods by which information is obtained and disseminated, the means of storing and retrieving such information, and…

Discusses the critical role of peer review in defending academic freedom and tenure, focusing on the origins of peer review in the United States, the role of the American Association of University Professors in defending free inquiry and speech, standards of ethics and competence, and the need to educate current faculty on their rights and…

Problems associated with the establishment of speech codes on college campuses, in response to hate speech, are examined. An inventory of speech regulations already in effect at 384 colleges and universities, by Arati R. Korwar, is also presented. The summary organizes behavior and related policy into 13 categories. (MSE)