The Furman University faculty have passed a resolution defending academic freedom in the face of several pieces of proposed state legislation that impact K-12 and higher education, especially controlling the way United States history is taught and ending education on systemic racism.<\/p>\n
The resolution also addresses legislation introduced in other states \u201cthat target academic discussions of racism and related issues in schools, colleges and universities as \u2018divisive\u2019 or \u2018uncomfortable\u2019 to white majority students.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis expression of our commitment as a faculty was crucial to so many,” said Brandon Inabinet, associate professor of communication studies who authored the resolution. “Some faculty are currently self-policing because of the toxic political climate in our state and the media that drive these irrational fears. Others know their discipline might be next, as the move to suppress, censure and regulate the flow of information tends to have ripple effects. In no case should legislators without expertise attempt to define terms they clearly do not understand or limit education to what is \u2018comfortable\u2019 for all students. Robust and critical debate, discussion and dialogue are the cornerstones of education.\u201d<\/p>\n
The full resolution is below.<\/p>\n
A Resolution Defending Academic Freedom<\/strong><\/p>\n Date: 3\/16\/2022<\/p>\n RATIONALE:<\/strong><\/p>\n WHEREAS<\/strong> state legislative proposals are being introduced across the United States that target academic discussions of racism and related issues in schools, colleges and universities as \u201cdivisive\u201d or \u201cuncomfortable\u201d to white majority students.<\/p>\n WHEREAS <\/strong>the state of South Carolina has five such bills in committee, all of which violate academic freedom and create a chilling effect on any discussion of race or important historical topics in the classroom; all of which will further decrease the number of individuals willing to be teachers for fear of surveillance and punishment; several of which will jeopardize the accreditation of public universities in the state by curtailing academic freedom.<\/p>\n WHEREAS<\/strong> the Furman Faculty Handbook affirms the importance of academic freedom to the proper functioning of universities, trusting experts to teach according to the best standards of their fields, and citing the American Association of University Professors\u2019 1940 statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure<\/a>.<\/p>\n WHEREAS <\/strong>faculty have responsibility for the curriculum at their universities, as is reflected in Furman University\u2019s Policy 100.1.C.2.<\/p>\n WHEREAS<\/strong> the term \u201cdivisive\u201d is subjective and chills the capacity of educators to explore a wide variety of topics, based on criteria that are inconsistent with the goals of education and the development of essential critical thinking skills.<\/p>\n WHEREAS<\/strong> education on systemic barriers of race, gender, and sexuality that impair democracy should be understood as central to the pursuit of knowledge in the 21st<\/sup> century and in producing engaged and informed citizens.<\/p>\n WHEREAS <\/strong>over seventy organizations, including the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU), issued the Joint Statement on Legislative Efforts to Restrict Education about Racism and American History<\/a> (June 16, 2021) stating their \u201cfirm opposition to a spate of legislative proposals being introduced across the country that target academic lessons, presentations, and discussions of racism and related issues in American history in schools, colleges and universities . . .\u00a0 In higher education, under principles of academic freedom that have been widely endorsed, professors are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject. Educators, not politicians, should make decisions about teaching and learning.\u201d<\/p>\n WHEREAS<\/strong> Furman University\u2019s mission and values profess a \u201csteadfast defense of free inquiry\u201d and that in drawing \u201clessons from thoughtful consideration of our\u00a0university\u2019s past,<\/a>\u201c we \u201cadvocate respect for all people and actively welcome perspectives from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n WHEREAS<\/strong> the Furman University administration once again on May 30, 2020, reaffirmed a commitment to building the \u201cbeloved community\u201d in response to racial violence nationally and racist incidents on our campus; and on October 28, 2021, reaffirmed its support of LGBTQIA+ communities in response to slurs and discriminatory language on campus.<\/p>\n WHEREAS<\/strong>\u00a0in a nation that has for centuries struggled against inequity and injustice, many students do not have adequate historical knowledge or the understanding to connect these historical harms with their contemporary legacies.<\/p>\n RESOLUTION:<\/strong><\/p>\n THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED<\/strong> that we, as members of the Furman faculty, resolutely reject attempts to ban books, punish instructors, or otherwise restrict university curricula, including on matters related to equity and justice.<\/p>\n BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED <\/strong>that we stand with our South Carolina higher education and K-12 colleagues, as well as with future teachers coming from Furman University\u2019s academic program.<\/p>\n BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED <\/strong>that we encourage all instructors, regardless of institutional position, to host classroom discussions in which, using professional guidelines and standards in their fields, they determine appropriate information for their student audiences as well as the best methods for teaching this material.<\/p>\n