Students For Academic Freedom

Response: Conservative Group Seeks College 'Bill of Rights' · 12 October 2005

In her recent article for Gannett News Services (Conservative group seeks college 'bill of rights,' 10/02) Cara Matthews quotes William Scheuerman, the head of the United University Professors, as saying, "This whole thing is part of an extremist right-wing movement to promote a right-wing agenda." The Academic Bill of Rights calls for diversity, fairness and inclusion. If Mr. Scheuerman thinks that is right extremism, what does that say about his own agendas?

This is not the first time Mr. Scheuerman has made false statements about the Academic Bill of Rights. In an article published in the UUP Voice last April, he declared that the bill is "nothing more than a quota system for political extremists so they can deliver their right-wing sermons in the classroom."
As we explained in a previous response sent to Mr. Scheuerman (and copied to Cara Matthews): "The Academic Bill of Rights is viewpoint neutral and protects both leftwing and rightwing students and faculty members, and indeed all members of the academic community....Contrary to Scheuerman's fanciful inventions, the Academic Bill of Rights explicitly forbids the use of political or religious preferences in hiring and tenure decisions, thereby eliminating any possibility of a quota system or preferences for conservative applicants. The Bill holds all faculty, irrespective of their political views, to the same standards, stating that 'While teachers are and should be free to pursue their own findings and perspectives in presenting their views, they should consider and make their students aware of other viewpoints. Academic disciplines should welcome a diversity of approaches to unsettled questions.'"
Since I personally directed Ms. Matthews to this response to Scheuerman, even taking the time to email her a direct link, in which we proved that his comments are absurd and baseless, there is no excuse for her misreporting of this matter.

Sincerely,

Sara Dogan
National Campus Director
Students for Academic Freedom

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