The concept of academic freedom only applies to those honestly using that freedom in the fulfillment of the office granted them. Those who cynically misuse that freedom should have it revoked. I think it is very clear that many, many members of academia have abandoned their responsibilities and have whored themselves out to politics. In doing so, they have lost all claim to the protection of academic freedom. They should be called to account. If that comes in the form of political intervention in public institutions then so be it. As unpleasant a prospect as it is, such political intervention has proven to be the only means of insuring public integrity in the long run. We must root out this corruption before it destroys the humanities.
Shannon is talking about one specific form of corruption -- systematic political bias -- but there are others that affect not just the humanities, but also the sciences and professional schools. These derive from the lure of corporate and government grants, which have become a practical necessity for anyone pursuing an academic career in the sciences. There are also corruptions associated with tenure and with peer review that are seldom addressed. And that is not to speak of the corruption associated with school athletic programs and the like, or top-heavy and frankly incompetent administrations, or the corruption of local governments by universities [which are often the biggest employer in a municipality], and the.... oh Hell, that's enough for now.
Read Shannon's comments here.
Then go to the Becker-Posner blog, which is currently discussing "University Governance" for the perspective of two of America's most distinguished intellectuals on the matter. Highly recommended.
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