Over the past two weeks a disturbing trend has been emerging in the world of academic freedom. As economic recession and rising budget shortfalls put strain on colleges and universities around the country, large donors are playing a greater role in determining University Programming.
At California Polytechnic Institute a planned speech by food industry critic Michael Pollon was converted to a panel discussion with industry supporters at the last minute after threats from a major industry donor. A Faculty group had invited Pollon to campus to expose students to alternatives to industrial agriculture. Read more here.
A few days later University of Alaska Fairbanks Professor Richard Steiner was stripped of his National Sea Program grant and his office after losing an appeal. The National Oceanographic and Aeronautic Administration (NOAA) who fund the grant, had expressed concerns over Steiner’s criticism of offshore drilling, and the pro-business slant of the academic program. Pressure from the NOAA was cited as a “deciding factor” in stripping Steiner of his grant. Read more here.
Over the past few years the major attacks on academic freedom have largely come from an identifiable, organized bloc led by David Horowitz. The current threats to academic freedom may not be as easily identifiable, but they still deserve our concern and a unified response.
Amidst budgetary crisis and falling public funding and major capital campaigns there is a temptation to trade academic freedom for private funders. Supporters of academic freedom need to stand firm and insist that members of the university community determine campus programming, not the agendas of private donors.