To the Editor:Re “Academic Freedom Under Fire,” by Jennifer Schuessler (The Arts, Feb. 17):Reading this article one might think that the only people concerned about academic freedom are newly formed faculty groups that have “sprung up” at Harvard, Yale and Columbia.
In fact, the American Association of University Professors, with about 43,000 members, has defined and defended academic freedom since 1915.
The vast majority of higher education faculty members today are in contingent appointments.
They are not eligible for tenure, and so most have no protection when they are disciplined as a result of violations of academic freedom.
has advocated a robust concept of academic freedom.
Persons:
Jennifer Schuessler
Organizations:
Harvard, Yale, American Association of University, Penn, Columbia, Rutgers
Locations:
Columbia, A.A.U.P, N.Y.U, Cornell