Students For Academic Freedom

'Bill of Academic Rights' Right for East Carolina University · 07 April 2005

By Justin Byrd--The Daily Reflector--04/07/05

State Sen. Andrew Brock has put a bill to the state Legislature that all ECU students and faculty should take note of, and some say is greatly needed. It calls for a "Bill of Academic Rights," which is modeled on author David Horowitz's "Academic Bill of Rights."

Both bills require that faculty should not "infringe upon the academic freedom and quality of education of their students by persistently introducing controversial matter into the classroom or coursework that has no relation to their subject of study and that serves no legitimate pedagogical purpose."

Both bills do not promote or attack conservative/liberal or any other ideology or religion, but makes clear that the tax-funded UNC system is to be based on "pluralism, diversity, opportunity, critical intelligence, openness and fairness."

What does this mean to the students and faculty of ECU? If accepted, students would be guaranteed to be graded solely on the basis of their answers and knowledge of the subject, not on the basis of their political or religious beliefs. Faculty could not be hired, fired or denied tenure based on their beliefs or use their state-funded positions for the purpose of political, ideological, religious or anti-religious indoctrination. This is but a sample of rights the bill puts forth.

Some ECU students have said they have been ridiculed by professors for their views in classes, where the subject should not have even been brought up in the first place, or are taught only one point of view on controversial subjects, and even receive lower grades on papers for not agreeing with the professor.

Those opposed to the bill never attack its fairness, but say it is not needed because what it advocates is in place. As an ECU student, I can attest that for some students, and even faculty, it is not only absent, but desperately needed.

JUSTIN BYRD

Greenville

—