Universities are primary sites
for developing one’s intellect, for expressing one’s views, and for receiving information.
Academic freedom is essential to cognitive liberty. If our institutions of higher learning are
censoring certain ideas, denying students or professors the right to
explore novel concepts, or preventing individuals from developing their
minds in their own unique ways, then freedom of thought is an empty
promise. Likewise, academic institutions are entitled under the First
Amendment to remain free from government influence in matters of who may
teach, what may be taught, how it shall be taught, and who shall be
admitted for study.
See
also
Book Banning
Resources
FBI
Begins Visiting Libraries
June 24, 2002,
Washington Post
"WASHINGTON –– The
FBI is visiting libraries nationwide and checking the reading records of
people it suspects of having ties to terrorists or plotting an attack,
library officials say."
Academic
Freedom in the USA
(c) 1999, 2000 by Ronald B. Standler
“Academic freedom is an
amorphous quasi-legal concept that is neither precisely defined nor
convincingly justified from legal principles. These two defects make the
law of academic freedom difficult to understand. I have no doubt that
academic freedom is important and desirable. My concern is that professors
in the USA may believe that academic freedom is a valid legal doctrine
with power and vitality, when – in fact – it is often only empty
rhetoric by professors and judges.”
Intellectual
Freedom Statement
American Library
Association’s Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights
“Creative thought is, by its nature,
new. New ideas are always different and, to some people, distressing and
even threatening. The creator of every new idea is likely to be regarded
as unconventional -- occasionally heretical -- until his idea is first
examined, then refined, then tested in its political. social or moral
applications.
The characteristic ability of our governmental system to adapt to
necessary change is vastly strengthened by the option of the people to
choose freely from among conflicting opinions. To stifle nonconformist
ideas at their inception would be to end the democratic process.”
International
Federation of Library Association and Institutions
"The IFLA/FAIFE Committee and Office
furthers free access to information and freedom of expression in all
aspects, directly or indirectly, related to libraries and librarianship.
IFLA/FAIFE monitors the state of intellectual freedom within the library
community worldwide, supports IFLA policy development and cooperation
with other international human rights organisations, and responds to
violations of free access to information and freedom of expression."
Office
for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association
"The Office for
Intellectual Freedom is charged with implementing ALA policies
concerning the concept of intellectual freedom as embodied in the Library
Bill of Rights, the Association’s basic policy on free access to
libraries and library materials. The goal of the office is to educate
librarians and the general public about the nature and importance of
intellectual freedom in libraries."
“Intellectual
Freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive
information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for
free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides
of a question, cause or movement may be explored. Intellectual freedom
encompasses the freedom to hold, receive and disseminate ideas.” — Intellectual
Freedom and Censorship Q & A
On
Freedom of Expression and Campus Speech Codes
Policy statement from the American Association of University Professors
“On a campus that is free and open, no
idea can be banned or forbidden. No viewpoint or message may be deemed
so hateful or disturbing that it may not be expressed.”
If you would like
to expound on any of these issues or suggest additional resources,
please contact us at info@cognitiveliberty.org.
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