Cancellation of the screening of a film, "The Last Temptation of Christ," at Furman University (South Carolina), then at a public library, and the debate over granting of credit to students for participating in a related discussion, are described. Faculty response and the aftermath of the controversy are also discussed. (MSE)

Problems generated by higher education institutional efforts to constrain faculty's instructional autonomy are evaluated. Given traditional administrative noninvolvement, such efforts can offend faculty expectations, leading to claims against the institution stemming from poor evaluations. Academic freedom values are examined as a heuristic for…

A study sought to clarify the meaning and use of "academic freedom" in public higher education through a survey of administrators, department heads, and college faculty in Georgia public institutions of higher education. It is felt that clarification of the term should reduce potential for conflict in faculty and institutional rights and…

Analysis of a Supreme Court case, in which university use of academic freedom as a basis for protecting confidential peer-review documents was rejected, explores the general development and this application of academic freedom doctrine. Individual academic freedom is distinguished from institutional autonomy in protection of the free exchange of…

The Supreme Court's denial of review in the case of "Kinsey v. Salado ISD" may serve to restrict future free speech and political association rights of top educational administrators. Advises top administrators to avoid public involvement in the election of their board members. (MLF)

Reviews a set of Supreme Court rulings that may dramatically alter the landscape of First Amendment jurisprudence: "Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah"; "Jones v. Clear Creek Independent School District"; "Lambs Chapel v. Center Moriches Union Free School District"; and Zobrest v. Catalina Foothills…

Clothing is a primary form of gang-member identification. School boards that seek to revise dress-code policy on gang attire need to make certain they can justify their steps so that students' right to freedom of expression and the need for a safe school environment can coexist. Reviews five court cases and offers guidelines. (MLF)

Lists values that should underpin librarians' work: stewardship, service, intellectual freedom, privacy, rationalism, commitment to literacy and learning, unfettered access to recorded knowledge and information, and democracy. Discusses how these values should be used to shape a vision of the future library, a "library as a place" that challenges…

Reviews legal rulings related to student evaluation of faculty (SEF), their implications, and assumptions with regard to accuracy and psychometric validity when SEF is integral to the denial of academic freedom, tenure, promotion, and reappointment. The legal principles of Disparate Treatment and Disparate Impact are considered in relation to SEF.…

Presents elements of democratic political theory to advance an interpretation of principled student activism on campuses as citizen-engagement and an opportunity for hands-on citizenship education. Describes a brief scenario of campus dissent to illustrate democratic aims, processes, and underlying principles. Offers implications for…

The Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois, Chicago is a high-visibility urban-policy research center that is sometimes drawn into controversial issues. University leadership must defend academic freedom vigorously, but that freedom cannot be used indiscriminately for faculty pronouncements; faculty and administrators must ensure…

Describes a program (initiated by the Independent Journalism Foundation) to introduce high school newspapers and "fact-based" journalism to students in Eastern Europe to help establish a free press in those countries. Notes the personal connections established between Eastern European students and teachers and students in the United…

These articles address the core values of librarianship, focusing on democracy and public libraries; equity of access to information, including building collections, circulation policies, interlibrary loan, and intellectual property and licensing; intellectual freedom, including rating systems for various media; and library service in the light of…

Presents a lesson for secondary students where they learn about the historical forces that have shaped the U.S. Constitution through the amendment process, examine the constitutional amending process, and discuss the freedoms of expression guaranteed by the First Amendment. Includes three student handouts. (CMK)

Outlines the role of faculty and issues that need to be addressed early on if large-scale distance education is going to be successful. Discusses academic freedom; intellectual property; training; compensation; and royalties and revenue sharing. Notes the importance of active involvement by faculty in shaping the university of the future. (AEF)