Academic freedom

Academic freedom is a widely used and championed phrase, but an often poorly defined concept with different meanings in different cultures and different contexts. It can refer to the alleged right of students, teachers or academic institutions to do or be protected from a number of different things.

Limits

The limits of academic freedom are often controversial. For example, in January 2005, University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill became the subject of intense media scrutiny in the United States because of an essay he wrote in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. In the essay, Churchill asserted that the foreign policy of the United States was partly to blame for the attacks. He was particularly vilified for describing the World Trade Center victims as "little Eichmanns," a reference to Hannah Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem. Many called for Churchill to be fired for overstepping the bounds of acceptable discourse. Others defended him on the principle of academic freedom, even if they disagreed with his message.

Related Topics:
University of Colorado - Ward Churchill - September 11, 2001 attacks - World Trade Center - Eichmanns - Hannah Arendt's - Eichmann in Jerusalem

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