Reviews legislation and regulations affecting libraries and the publishing industry, including the Museum and Library Services Act; Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI); copyright; access to electronic government information; telecommunications and technology; electronic surveillance and privacy, including the USA Patriot Act;…

Analyzes federal case involving suspension of New Jersey high school student for wearing a T-shirt listing top 10 reasons for being a "redneck" in violation of district's racial harassment policy. Court upheld the policy with a minor exception, but ruled its application to the student's "redneck" T-shirt violated his First…

Summarizes some of 2001's more interesting and important court cases regarding disciplinary and academic decisions by higher education institutions, commenting on their effects on case law. (EV)

The 1967 "Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students" articulated a set of principles that seemed revolutionary to educators who expected higher education to continue its previous course in which students were merely passive recipients of education. This article provides a chronology of the development of the Joint Statement. (KW)

Although the two religion clauses in the First Amendment don't mention neutrality, 40 years of U.S. Supreme Court decisions have integrated that concept into their interpretations. Current understanding of neutrality has been shaped by defining benchmarks: enactment of the 1984 Equal Access act; inclusion of religious speech as a subset of free…

A few colleges have turned down grants from the National Endowment for the Arts because recipients must sign a controversial pledge that they will not use the funds for work that may be considered obscene. Many scholars do not believe that accepting money will infringe academic freedom. (MLW)

In any public university system, the relationship between the state's demands for utility and accountability and the universities' needs for academic freedom and autonomy create serious tensions. Coordinating boards have not reached the positive potential that was foreseen in the author's book "Statewide Coordination of Higher Education." (MLW)

Lessons from distinctions drawn on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, and disability are discussed: equality requires looking from multiple perspectives, neutrality requires looking for starting points and exposing them to questions, and tolerance demands that unstated norms are exposed and the views embedded in institutional practices…

A survey of one Australian university's faculty found that research activity is highly variable and influenced by a number of factors including personal characteristics; differences in research style, methods, and strategies within and between disciplines; and funding. Individual autonomy in topic selection was important. (Author/MSE)

Summarizes testimony given by the Special Libraries Association (SLA) to the House Subcommittee on Government Information, Justice and Agriculture addressing federal government information dissemination policies and practices. Recommendations made by the SLA are discussed and the climate within Congress regarding information policies is examined.…

Analyzes the creation of the new media policy in Poland formed at the 1989 "round table" negotiations between the Polish leadership and Solidarity, a Polish trade union. Discusses the issues of censorship, access to newsprint and to the airwaves (primarily to television), and the legalization of underground publications. (KEH)

Examines the extent to which the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) enables access to information about federally funded university research. Concludes that information on government research grants is covered by the FOIA only if a government agency has possession. (RS)

Community is integral to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge, and faculty must constitute the heart and soul of the community. Faculty values and community, and faculty relationships with administrators and students are discussed. Ways administrators and faculty can promote community are offered. (MLW)

Analysis of documents from the McCarthy Era reveals a mixed pattern of AAUP response to the threats the movement posed to the principles of academic freedom. A secure policy stance in this area was achieved as a result of actions initiated when Ralph Fuchs became general secretary. (Author/MLW)

Describes a midwestern high school's serious student publications program. Over the past 20 years, students here have published major stories on incest, homosexuality, teen pregnancy, cheating, divorce, fatal illness, and other topics without prepublication scrutiny by the principal. Recommendations are provided to ensure fair coverage, relevant…