Freedom of Speech?

Jamie Signorile

Many people have praised professors for their large contributions, not only to schools, but to their fields of study as well. Professors research topics and perfect and find out new things involved within their fields. However, many people have not noticed how restricted professors are in their speech.

In a recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, the AAUP (American Association of University Professors) has started a push for the protection of teacher's rights. The AAUP wants universities to adopt policies to help professors not be afraid to speak their minds. The organization is doing this through a program titled: "Speak Up, Speak: Protect the Faculty Voice on Campus". The AAUP has motivation from various sources on this issue. For example, the Supreme Court case Garcetti v. Caballos. The AAUP has released a report that accurately depicts the issue of the court case and its involvement with public employees such as professors. The plaintiff felt that he was passed up on a job promotion for contrary statements he had made pertaining to a warrant. The court made a decision stating that public employees who make statements pursuant to their official duties are not protected by the first amendment from employee discipline.

In addition, much of the fight was triggered by a case involving a University of Wisconsin professor. Professor Kevin J. Renken spoke out against administrators from the National Science Foundation who, he felt, where mishandling a grant given to him. The University punished him by reducing his pay.

I feel that this whole situation is not right. Professors should be able to voice their opinions because they hold such high grounds within their fields. There should absolutely be no restriction on anybody to uphold their first amendment right and hopefully the AAUP can help the cause.