Victory for Academic Freedom

The intellectual corruption of our universities by political radicals has been proceeding without interruption since the Vietnam War. This political movement in the academic world didn’t get into high gear until the 1980s, when the Sixties generation attained tenure rank and with it institutional power in the universities. But it has now become a pervasive and destructive fact of our national life. Entire academic departments and fields are no longer devoted to scholarly pursuits, but have become ideological training and recruitment centers for radical causes.

Educational institutions are the cornerstones of our democracy.This is particularly so in the present historical juncture when we are engaged in a war with totalitarian enemies that seek to destroy us. Teaching the next generations the principles of our system, and developing in them the ability to reason and think for themselves are agendas crucial to the health and survival of our nation. This knowledge and these abilities are the fundamental prerequisites of a democratic culture. And they are in danger in our country today. David Horowitz

The father of the Academic Bill of Rights David Horowitz, the president of the Center for the Study of Popular Culture, brought the issue of academic integrity to Jack Kingston a few years ago and has really put the ball in play on this issue.

[...] the Young America's Foundation noted that John Daly, a professor at the Warren County Community College sent a threatening email to a student promising "to expose her right-wing, anti-people politics until groups like [hers] won't dare show their face on a college campus." As if that wasn't enough, Daly continued by saying that "Real freedom will come when soldiers in Iraq turn their guns on their superiors."

In fact, a study of liberals and conservatives on college campuses found that the overall ratio of Democrats to Republicans at the 32 schools studied was more than 10 to 1 (1397 Democrats, 134 Republicans).

The learning environment on campuses throughout America is not fair and balanced.

Today, I'm pleased to report that Congress went on record to support legislation containing the Academic Bill of Rights, which will help level the ideological playing field and take the personal politics of liberal professors out of the classroom.

That bill, the College Access & Opportunity Act (H.R. 609), passed the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by a vote of 221-199. I was proud to support it.

Though today's victory is sweet, the road to get here has required a number of key players.

Continue reading the full post.

Majority Leader Boehner wrote a must-read editorial on the importance of the Academic Bill of Rights which gives the history of the legislation and lays out a strong case for why we need it NOW.

Another very good thing. Very good indeedy.

Rightalk.com to Live Webcast David Horowitz/Ward Churchill Debate on April 6 PR Web, On April 6 2006, Rightalk.com will webcast LIVE a debate on “Can Politics Be Taken Out Of The Classroom, and Should It Be?” between David Horowitz and University of Colorado-Boulder Professor Ward Churchill at George Washington University. Following on April 7 Rightalk.com will also webcast live the first Students For Academic Freedom Conference at the Washington Court Hotel.

Parents Must Recognized the Ideological Cost of Higher Education