A California superior court struck down a Stanford University antiharassment policy, saying that it restricted students' free-speech rights. The policy had banned face-to-face insults that stigmatize students on the basis of such things as race, sex, or religion. California law requires private colleges to grant students the same constitutional…

Analyzes the results of recent court cases concerning the constitutionality of mandatory student fees and discusses their implications for student affairs practice. To date, courts have ruled mandatory student activity fees permissible when they do not unduly infringe on students' constitutional rights. Offers eight principles for designing…

Addresses issues of electronic publishing from an archival perspective, including authentication, mutability, reformatting, preservation, editorial and administrative policies, costs, the role of librarians and archivists, technical procedures, access and the rights of privacy and freedom of information, and standards. (AEF)

Criticizes self-esteem movement's role in education. Suggests movement's efforts to help people "feel good" result in dishonesty, intellectual exclusion, and inhibition of genuine discussion. Genuine self-esteem is a consequence of educational achievement. Portrays movement as panacea for budget cuts in children's services. Concludes self-esteem…

Discusses the legal concerns of free access to information, tort liability, and free speech in a commercial electronic networking environment. Recommends that legal questions be addressed through case law, Congressional hearings, and agency solicitations, and that network service providers protect themselves by posting notice of equal access…

A federal judge has ordered the University of New Hampshire to end a professor's suspension, after ruling that his classroom comments did not amount to sexual harassment. The university had claimed the teacher violated institutional sexual-harassment policy by creating a classroom environment hostile to women. (MSE)

The Board of Governors of the University of Colorado at Boulder has turned down the promotion of an associate professor of English who specializes in study of erotic literature and obscenity. Critics call the ruling a breech of both academic freedom and faculty governance. (MSE)

In a speech to University of Chicago (Illinois) students, an educator encourages students to challenge intellectual authority, allow their own assumptions to be challenged, become involved, be open to traditional curriculum content, and generally, keep an open mind. (MSE)

Evaluating Chinese publications about rural education and needed reforms presents several problems: political limits on educational debate; paucity of statistical data and reference citations; and complex ideological statements. Examination of nine journal and newspaper articles reveals that they cautiously endorse rural education reforms within…

Urges incorporation of ethics into social studies curriculum. Provides an overview of ethical theory including principle-based theories of utilitarianism and deontology and virtue-based theories. Discusses philosophies of social science including positivism, interpretivism, and critical social science. Suggests teaching methods and curriculum…

Examines constitution of university membership, discussing alumni financial obligations and relationships between universities and alumni. Alumni offer an opportunity for universities to maintain educational and research relationships in a wider sphere and a chance for diffusion of the academy's democracy-supporting features to reach that sphere.…

Describes the schools established and operated by the Dutch Reformed Church in the Netherlands from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries. Contends that the neo-Calvinists created a form of moral education consistent with their religious beliefs. Argues that ordinary citizens were still broadened intellectually and socially by these schools.…

Comments on Moshman's article in this issue concerning questions about adolescent reasoning, maturity, and rights to intellectual and other freedoms. Discusses the implications for public schools, government, and parents. Suggests that the evidence needed for a full rebuttal of the adolescent-as-child view involves demonstrated adultlike…

Describes a public and school library cooperative project with a year-long focus on young adult authors that culminated in a conference open to all middle school students with presentations by five authors. Securing funding, the planning process, authors' contracts, problems about recommended reading lists, and enthusiastic feedback from students…

An alternative interpretation of the First Amendment guarantee of free speech suggests that universities may prohibit and punish direct verbal assaults on specific individuals if the speaker intends to do harm and if a reasonable person would recognize the potential for serious interference with the victim's educational rights. (MSE)