Nov 16, 2004
OAH: "Free Speech for Me, Not Thee"
An article , co-authored by Ralph Luker, Robert"K.C" Johnson (both of Cliopatria), and myself, criticizing the OAH Committee on Academic Freedom's report on academic freedom has appeared on the HNN main page. Glenn Reynolds has also mentioned it.
As we point out, the Committee completely neglected (despite much advice to the contrary) to discuss violations of academic freedom by the left, such as speech codes. In other words, the report provides almost a textbook example of the theory (even if it was not the intention of the authors):"free speech for me, but not for thee."
This is unfortunate for several reasons, of course. From a purely practical standpoint, such as a one-sided approach only serves to put off a whole potential audience of non-leftist historians who believe in academic freedom.
Many thanks to Ralph for taking the initiative on this. We have not received any reaction from members of the OAH's Committee on Academic Freedom.....but we aren't done yet!