A cross-post from CRTnet regarding restrictions on academic
freedom--originally sparked by the screening of gay films...
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 1994 10:20:00 EDT
From: Tom Benson 814-865-4201 <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list CRTNET <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: CRTNET 1035
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| CRTNET |
| |
| September 7, 1994 |
| |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Number 1035 |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| COMMUNICATION RESEARCH AND THEORY NETWORK |
| |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Edited by Tom Benson, Penn State University |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
CONTENTS --
-- An Urgent Cry for Help from Iowa!
(Norman Clark)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Date: Tue, 6 Sep 1994 22:12:23 -0500
[sender] "Rhetoric, social movements, persuasion"
<[log in to unmask]>
[from] Norman Clark <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: An Urgent Cry for Help from Iowa!
A urgent cry for help from Iowa! If you care at all about
politics, free speech, and the right to assembly, YOU MUST
READ ON! If you want to support a social movement rather
than just write about it.
My appologies if you have already read this message. We are
not trying to clog your mailbox, but we need to get this
message to as many people as possible. If you haven't read
this message yet, please read on. If you know of any Usenet
groups, Listservs, or other electronic mail groups that
would find this message interesting and provoking, please
pass it on. And now, on to the repression.
At present, a group called the Campaign for Academic Freedom
(CAF) at the University of Iowa is fighting a "classroom
materials policy." The policy was installed after students
complained about being "exposed" to films in classes that
depicted homosexual lifestyles. The policy was originally
worded BY THE REGENTS to require instructors to inform
students about any sexual materials used in classes; the
faculty senate removed the reference to sexual materials and
this revision was rejected. Pres. Hunter Rawlings, without
Faculty Senate approval, added the words "and to give
students adequate indication of any unusual or unexpected
class presentations or materials."
Those of you sensitive to the power of language and rhetoric
can probably already see the problem brewing. This policy
is a problem for several reasons.
First, it arises out of a context in which the words
"unusual and unexpected" are used as euphemisms for
homosexual content. ALL CASES of complaints have been
against graduate instructors, and the drive for the policy
was begun by a handful of students complaining about the
films "Taxi zum Klo" and "Paris is Burning."
Second, it ignores the fact that the ideas that change human
history, which the university is supposed to encourage and
debate, are unusual and unexpected. We ought to be
guaranteeing our students will have to debate this material
in our classes.
Third, while some might argue it is "common courtesy" to
inform students of class content, and not have ideas crammed
down their throughts, such an argument misses the point.
Students are already free, in fact encouraged, to voice
their objections without the policy. Complaint procedures
are already on the books. This policy acts as a parentis in
locus, "protects" students from controversy and debate, does
a disservice to students learning process, and attacks free
speech.
Fourth, the policy sets a dangerous precedent. Controlling
academic discourse was often a way to begin the attack on
other freedoms (remember McCarthy? Hitler?). Iowa Civil
Liberties Uniion Director Cryss Farley pointed out, "The
Regent's policy chills the freedom of the University faculty
and students to discuss, debate, question, express ideas,
and utilize classroom materials of choice free from
political interference. Pre-censorship is the most
dangerous of all curtailments of expression."
Unfortunately, the University's curtailment of expression
has not stopped with the policy. They have continued to
limit free speech in even more repressive ways. On August
25, Dean Jones (Associate Provost and Dean of Students) sent
a letter to CAF informing them that "effective until
September 1, 1995, CAF s hereby prohibited from HOLDING
RALLIES ON THE PENTACREST [an central area of campus where
debates and rallies have traditionally occured, a site
"hallowed" by the University as the penultimate expression
of its commitment to free speech and democratic debate] OR
PLACING A TABLE OR OTHER STRUCTURE ON THE OPEN GROUNDS OF
THE PENTACREST. In the event that CAF places a table on the
Pentacrest, EMPLOYS ELECTRONIC SOUND AMPLIFICATION EQUIPMENT
ANY PLACE ON CAMPUS without appropriate approval, or
otherwise violates University Policy, CAF's recognition may
be revoked [we will lose our funding!]. In addition,
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF CAF may be subject to DISCIPLINARY
SANCTIONS."
DO YOU SEE WHAT THIS IS? The University administration is
taking away our right to assemble, to debate institutional
policy that affects our lives, to free speech, to distribute
literature! They are actively suppressing us through
threats and intimidation, hoping that a one-year cooling off
period will silence us. WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED.
According to Dean Jones as quoted in the student newspaper,
we have the right to protest as long as it is done in an
orderly fashion, at the time and in the place that the
University approves. EXCUSE ME, but isn't part of protest
the fact that it is SUPPOSED to be disorderly and
inconvenient for the powers that be?
In light of this, we will be setting up a literature table
on the Pentacrest tomorrow, September 7. We will be holding
a rally, using the forbidden bullhorn, Thursday Sept. 8. WE
NEED YOUR HELP! We need you to flood the Administration
with letters or e-mail decrying the Administration's
repressive policy, and its active repression of free speech
and the right to assembly. Please, take the second or two
to send a note to the following addresses:
President Hunter Rawlings
Jessup Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
Dean Jones
114 Jessup Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
** E-MAIL : [log in to unmask] ***
Your support is vital. Please help.
Norman Clark
Communication Studies
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
=======================================================
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| CRTNET is edited by: |
| |
| Tom Benson | INTERNET: [log in to unmask] |
| Dept. of Speech Communication | BITNET: T3B@PSUVM |
| Penn State University | FAX: 814-863-7986 |
| 227 Sparks Building | OFFICE: 814-865-4201 |
| University Park, PA 16802 USA | HOME: 814-238-5277 |
| | DEPT: 814-865-3461 |
| |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| BACK ISSUES |
| Back issues of CRTNET may be obtained from two sources. |
| (1) LISTSERV@PSUVM archives CRTNET; if you are able to use |
| interactive messaging, try TELL LISTSERV@PSUVM HELP to get |
| started; for an index of CRTNET files, try TELL LISTSERV@PSUVM |
| INDex CRTNET. You may also send the same command in a note; send |
| the note to LISTSERV@PSUVM with the command, by itself, as the |
| content of the note. Detailed directories of CRTNET contents |
| 1985-1992 are available in CRTNET numbers 866-874. |
| (2) COMSERVE@RPITSVM (bitnet) will respond to interactive commands |
| or electronic mail; try asking for HELP. |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| SUBSCRIPTIONS |
| Subscriptions to CRTNET are free to all. Send electronic mail |
| requests to editor T3B@PSUVM or CRTNET@PSUVM (Bitnet); or you may |
| be able to send an interactive message: TELL LISTSERV@PSUVM SUB |
| CRTNET <your> <name> |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| CONTRIBUTIONS |
| Readers are encouraged to contribute abstracts, articles, book |
| reviews, announcements, comments, questions, and discussion to |
| CRTNET. All topics relating to the general area of human |
| communication are welcome. |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
** END OF CRTNET **
*************************
|
