2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the Editor: "Academic Freedom"
Issue date: 4/29/05 Section: Opinions
Dear Editor,
The recent editorial regarding Academic Freedom and a controversial bill in the Ohio legislature prompted me to point out that there is a similar bill in the FLORIDA legislature right now. Under the provisions of this bill, HB0837, students could sue their professors and/or colleges for presenting material with a point of view contrary to a student's beliefs. For example, a fundamentalist Christian student could sue because the "Intelligent Design (creationism)" origin theory isn't given equal billing to evolutionary theories regarding the origin of species and the like in a science class.
So, such a bill should encourage more open academic discussions, no? And protect students from the "academic tyranny" of crazy, overzealous radical professors. Right?
Well, what if a student buys into a conspiracy theory that claims the moon landings in the 60's were all a hoax and the "evidence" of the landings was faked in the Nevada desert? Some people actually believe that, you know. So, If a professor doesn't give that point of view serious classroom attention, that student is entitled to sue under this statute. What if I believe fervently that the earth is flat? Can I sue for having my viewpoint belittled and discriminated against? YES, if this bill passes.
Do note that this particular bill in Florida would not affect Rollins directly, because the bill's authority would only extend to the public schools, like UCF. Lawmakers included that in the bill so that religious institutions that indoctrinate students with radical right-wing political beliefs can continue to do so with impunity. Nevertheless, are we willing to allow government officials and lawyers to dictate the curriculum in classrooms, under the guise of "protecting academic freedom?"
Read the text of the bill, with its blatant doubletalk, and write your Florida legislators to weigh in on the subject.
http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=hb083700.html&Directory=session/2005/House/bills/billtext/html/
Peace,
~Nik Bramblett
The recent editorial regarding Academic Freedom and a controversial bill in the Ohio legislature prompted me to point out that there is a similar bill in the FLORIDA legislature right now. Under the provisions of this bill, HB0837, students could sue their professors and/or colleges for presenting material with a point of view contrary to a student's beliefs. For example, a fundamentalist Christian student could sue because the "Intelligent Design (creationism)" origin theory isn't given equal billing to evolutionary theories regarding the origin of species and the like in a science class.
So, such a bill should encourage more open academic discussions, no? And protect students from the "academic tyranny" of crazy, overzealous radical professors. Right?
Well, what if a student buys into a conspiracy theory that claims the moon landings in the 60's were all a hoax and the "evidence" of the landings was faked in the Nevada desert? Some people actually believe that, you know. So, If a professor doesn't give that point of view serious classroom attention, that student is entitled to sue under this statute. What if I believe fervently that the earth is flat? Can I sue for having my viewpoint belittled and discriminated against? YES, if this bill passes.
Do note that this particular bill in Florida would not affect Rollins directly, because the bill's authority would only extend to the public schools, like UCF. Lawmakers included that in the bill so that religious institutions that indoctrinate students with radical right-wing political beliefs can continue to do so with impunity. Nevertheless, are we willing to allow government officials and lawyers to dictate the curriculum in classrooms, under the guise of "protecting academic freedom?"
Read the text of the bill, with its blatant doubletalk, and write your Florida legislators to weigh in on the subject.
http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=hb083700.html&Directory=session/2005/House/bills/billtext/html/
Peace,
~Nik Bramblett