Academic Freedom Reigns at Brooklyn College · 20 October 2004
by Chris McLaughlin--The BC Excelsior--10/18/04
Students for Academic Freedom , a recently formed Brooklyn College student organization devoted to protecting students from intellectual discrimination, held its second general meeting this past Thursday.
Within the first hour of the meeting the Harambee room in SUBO, where the meeting was held, allowed for standing room only as more than 20 students and one faculty member showed up.
Eldad Yaron, President of SAF, took advantage of the filled-to-capacity audience by opening up the meeting with the group's statement of purpose and goals.
"We are not here to censor anyone, we just want an unbiased education," said President Yaron of SAF.
The first issue of business for SAF is to get an Academic Bill of Rights adopted by BC's school administration . This Bill states the mission of the university as well as the concept, purpose, and rules which guide academic freedom at any institution of higher education. The Bill can be accessed on SAF's website at http://students.brooklyn.cuny.edu/saf .
An example of the effect that this Bill would have is that it would prohibit professors from being denied tenure on the basis of their religious or political views. This is a problem that previously manifested itself here at BC when History Professor K.C. Johnson was denied tenure on the basis that he was not collegial in respect .
According to Yaron, the larger effect of the Academic Bill of Rights will be "a school dedicated to intellectual diversity and fair education."
SAF does not take issue with the views of professors, but rather the lack of diversity of views presented in the classroom.
This was an issue heatedly discussed by students at the meeting. Every student present shared a classroom experience they had where only one view was presented.
Daniel Tauber, a Student Government assemblyman who was present at the meeting recently wrote a Bill "about diversity of opinions" that will soon be voted on by the SG Assembly. This Bill mirrors ABOR and goes one step further in addressing issues specific to Brooklyn College.
According to Yaron, the proposed Bill would be a strong step in the direction of getting ABOR adopted by the college administration.
Just as students are becoming more aware of ABOR, so are faculty members. Brian Burnstein, director of the Lay Advocate Program here at BC, spoke to students at the meeting. "It's so great to see a group of students so devoted to their education here at BC," said Burnstien to the crowd. Burnstien went on to speak to students about the need to "reccognize and foster intellectual diversity" here at BC. This is the very mission of SAF.
SAF is also devoted to combating political bias in the classroom, something that students at the meeting all agreed they had experienced at some point in their college careers.
"There need to be an inclusion of all views- this is not a political party, it's a school," said Yaron. Students at the meeting were urged to "bear in mind that there are multiple points of view to everything." SAF urges all students who believe this to join in order to "let their views be heard."
SAF's next meeting will take place on Thursday, November 4th and will be showing a documentary which deals with issues related to SAF's cause. The room where this is to be held will soon be announced.
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