What the Rough Rider Said

"You stand for Academic Freedom, for the right of private judgment, for a duty more incumbent upon the scholar than upon any other man, to tell the truth as he sees it, to claim for himself and to give to others the largest liberty in seeking after the truth." (Theodore Roosevelt at Trinity College, September, 1905)

With those words, President Roosevelt kept racial issues on the front burner of the political stove. Although it had been practiced for some time previously, the legal concept of academic freedom originated in Germany in 1850, when the Prussian Constitution formally declared, "Science and its teaching shall be free."

This freedom carries with it the responsibility to guard the freedom of others. The failure to protect that freedom allows one side of a disagreement to dominate. This majority opinion becomes the rule of the day, and that rule is used to compel others to conform.

"What were the Romish arguments, from the days of the Nicene debate, down to the pontifical anathama? They were, truth is one -- therefore true believers can not differ. But they do differ Therefore there is heresy. Heresy must be kept out. Make a creed to keep it out; and as to which side is heresy "Quod semper quod ubique quod ab omnibus." That is, "heresy is the opinion which is in the minority." A strange rule in a world where wise heads are certainly not generally in the majority, but a rule eminently convenient and practical. Yes; shear off the troublesome thinkers, and sing stagnant hallelujahs!" (Charles Beecher, "Creeds," the Western Preacher, Vol. 1, 1865).

It is indeed possible for this majority rule to become so strong in the secular realm that academic freedom is infringed. Consider the landmark case, "Adler v. Board of Education," in which the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that a teacher may be dismissed based on membership in an organization that is regarded negatively by the school or system.

"The present law proceeds on a principle repugnant to our society - guilt by association. A teacher is disqualified because of her membership in an organization found to be "subversive." ...The mere fact of membership in the organization raises a prima facie case of her own guilt. She may, it is said, show her innocence. But innocence in this case turns on knowledge; and when the witch hunt is on, one who must rely on ignorance leans on a feeble reed. The very threat of such a procedure is certain to raise havoc with academic freedom." (statement of Justices Douglas and Black, dissenting with Adler v. Board of Education, 1952)

Thus we see how easy it was for such an important principle to be tossed aside because of prevailing sentiments. Fortunately for academia, the majority opinion of the Supreme Court was expressed as follows five years later:

"We believe that there unquestionably was an invasion of petitioner's liberties in the areas of academic freedom and political expression – areas in which government should be extremely reticent to tread.

"The essentiality of freedom in the community of American universities is almost self-evident. No one should underestimate the vital role in a democracy that is played by those who guide and train our youth. To impose any strait jacket upon the intellectual leaders in our colleges and universities would imperil the future of our Nation." (Sweezy v. New Hampshire, 1957)

Taking these words to heart, every faculty member, every student, and every department must jealously guard the freedom of those around us. We should not allow the college as a whole, or its administration, to make decisions that rightly belong to the departments, or to individuals. Even so, an open discussion of ideas is necessary to ensure that the best possible paths are chosen. Think about these things as you plan the upcoming semester, schedule courses, and select and order textbooks.