Members' UPDATE september 2002

From the Chapter President:

Dear IUB AAUP Members,

As the experts trained in both our academic subjects and in pedagogy, we are responsible for the academic program at this university.  This responsibility includes something we call academic freedom.  In an effort to provide the most effective learning environment, we choose the ideas we teach, the subjects we investigate, and the creative work we carry out.  To the detriment of the Academy, there are great pressures to circumscribe academic freedom. 

At the National Level:  There are incidents where the response of politicians and academic leaders to September 11 has infringed on academic freedom.  In light of these events the AAUP has created a special committee under the leadership of Robert M. O’Neil, director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, a former president of the University of Virginia and former Vice President of IU.  The committee will look into a number of issues including restrictions proposed by the federal government on university research that is considered sensitive but not classified.  Also, the committee will look into restrictions on foreign scholars and students.

At the State Level:  In an editorial in the September 6 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education, AAUP General Secretary Mary Burgan points to the use by state legislatures of the power of the purse to censor curriculum at public universities. [http://www.aaup.org/statements/SpchState/02MABop.htm] In this regard I mention the upcoming meeting of The Indiana Conference of AAUP Chapters to be held on Saturday morning, October 5, 2002 in Indianapolis [See the details below.]

At the Local Level:  Here at IU the AAUP Chapter is actively engaged in its most important function of serving as an advocate for IU Bloomington faculty and teaching staff whose academic freedoms have been infringed.  In addition, we are planning open discussions on two critical issues.  First, academic freedom here at IU depends on strong faculty governance.  Bodies elected by the faculty, both the Bloomington Faculty Council and Policy Committees of the Schools, must be directly involved in all decisions that have impact on the academic mission of the university.  Is this strong faculty voice in danger under the new administrative structure here at IU Bloomington?  Second, are the 9/11 academic freedom conflicts seen elsewhere in the country also taking place here in Bloomington?

I am delighted to be given the opportunity to serve as the IUB AAUP president this year and take pleasure in working with of this year’s marvelous Executive Committee listed below and with you, the thoughtful and clever members of AAUP at IUB. 

Best from Physics,

Ben Brabson                                    
IUB-AAUP President, Professor of Physics

AAUP: The Indiana Conference FALL MEETING

October 5, Saturday, 9:00 a.m.– 1:30 p.m.
Schwitzer Center – Room 010
University of Indianapolis

Stan Jones, Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education will give the luncheon address, “The Outlook for Higher Education in Indiana” and Pat Shaw from the National AAUP Office will address, “National Issues in Higher Education.”

Check our website:     http://www.indiana.edu/~aaup/

It has current information (including the text of letters from National and our Chapter concerning September 11), as well as background and links to other IU Chapters and the National Office.

Membership:

Speak to colleagues who should join with us in defending academic freedom and the responsibilities and rights of the faculty. We all get too much mail, in paper and electronically.  Nothing can substitute for your willingness to speak directly to colleagues.  Contact any member of the Executive Committee or the chapter treasurer, Julie Bobay  (bobay@indiana or 855 3766) for a membership form or recruiting materials.

IUB Chapter Executive Committee:

Joyce Alexander                       Education                     joalexan

Ben Brabson, Pres.                   Physics                         brabson 

Julie Bobay, Treas.                   Library                         bobay

Ann Bristow                             Library                         bristow

Robert Eno                              East Asian                    eno

Ann Gellis                                 Law                             gellis

Laura Ginger**                        Business Law               ginger

Ed Greenebaum**                   Law                             greeneba

Michael Grossberg**              History                         grossber

Audrey Levasseur                   English                          levasseu

Joss Marsh                             English                          jomarsh           

Ted Miller, Vice Pres.             SPEA                           millert

Myrtle Scott                            Education                     scott

** Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure