David French–You state that you like to think of academic freedom as civil liberties exercised in an academic context. I can think of no description of academic freedom more misleading than this one.

A couple of examples should make this clear. If I should say in my physics classroom, “The value of the velocity of light has no connection whatever with the motion of material bodies,” my right to say it is fully protected by the First Amendment. Nevertheless, college authorities have the right, indeed the duty, to have me sacked for incompetence, because my teaching is at variance with professional standards in my field.

On the other hand, if I should say, “There is no credible evidence that global atmospheric temperatures have increased during the past ten years,” I am again protected by the First Amendment, but I am also protected by academic freedom–if I can cite the relevant climate data that lead me to this conclusion.

To take the point a little farther, if I tell my political-science class, “It is the duty of every citizen to refuse to pay his taxes if he disagrees with the policies of his government,” I am protected by the First Amendment, but not by academic freedom, since it is merely my opinion, not part of any professional standard.

I may be disciplined or not, depending upon the policies of the institution that employs me.

To attempt to apply the concept of academic freedom to student speech is an absurdity. The very reason they are in the classroom is to be taught the professional standards applicable to their field of study. As to their First Amendment rights, it is my duty to limit their expression for considerations of manner, duration, and relevance (not, however, for content).

To summarize, academic freedom has nothing whatever to do with civil liberties.

James Currin

Stamford, Ct.