"Academic Bill of Rights"

Response to the Academic Bill of Rights

Ten student, faculty, and
civil-liberties groups -
including the AAUP - have banded together to fight the
"academic bill of rights."

Read more about this coalition.
Free Exchange on Campus

Legislating Academic Freedom:
The Larkin-Horowitz Debate

Proponents of an A cademic Bill of Rights believe that American colleges and universities should guarantee "intellectual (read 'ideological') diversity" by legislating "fair and balanced" practices of grading, curriculum development, selection of invited speakers, allocation of university funds, hiring, firing, promotion and tenure review. The movement has built momentum in several states, and appeared recently in California as proposed Senate Bills 1335 and 5. Both of these bills died in Committee, but the heated and vigorous debate has gained national attention. A comparison of these two bills is available.

Although the ABoR, originally drafted by columnist David Horowitz, relies upon language drawn from the AAUP's landmark 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, in reality, it pushes an agenda that is antithetical to the best traditions of American higher education. Horowitz' appropriation of that document has been roundly denounced by the AAUP as "a grave threat to fundamental principles of academic freedom."

Dr. Graham Larkin, CA-AAUP VP for Private Colleges and Universities, agrees. In a special report published on this site in September 2004, he examined the simplistic worldview, flawed statistics, and political irresponsibility behind the Bill. The Bill's creator, David Horowitz, responded to Larkin's essay following his January 15th radio debate with Larkin and AAUP Associate Secretary, Marcus Harvey. The exchange is available here.

To join the fight against the
Academic Bill of Rights, get involved
with the AAUP, tireless defenders of
academic freedom since 1915.

AAUP Statements and Articles

David Horowitz' Funding Sources
(University of Cincinnati-AAUP website)

Comparison of SB 5 and Horowitz' Academic Bill of Rights

Incoming chair of AAUP's Committee A response
to SB 5

CA-AAUP Response to SB 5 The "Student Bill of Rights" (2005)

CA-AAUP Response to SB 1335 The "Academic Bill of Rights" (2004)

AAUP Statement on Controversy in the Classroom

Academic Freedom and the Intifada Curriculum
(from May/June, 2003 Academe)

Reluctant Foot Soldiers:
America's Undergraduates Rebuff Opponents of Academic Freedom
(from May/June, 2003 Academe)

Academic Freedom: The Latest Challenge
(from Fall, 2003 Berkeley Faculty Association's Forum, 1 pg. pdf)

AAUP Statement on the Academic Bill of Rights

Student Statements

ASI Resolution on SB 5
(CSU-San Marcos)

Related Materials

Turning the Tide: Challenging the Right on Campus
(The Oakland Institute, Oakland, CA)

"Why Horowitz Hates Professors"
(Michael Berube, Pennsylvania State University)

Academic ‘rights’ bill will only stifle debate
(Keith Hardeman, Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri)

The "Red Star" Incident
(Michael Aparichio, Santa Rosa Junios College, California)

"Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom Are Necessary For Unpopular and Difficult Ideas"
(Prof. Rashid Khalidi)

Conservative 'Academic Bill of Rights' Limits "Controversial Matter" in Classroom
(from April 5, 2005 Democracy Now)

Students' Guide to Defeating the Academic Bill of Restrictions

Political Intrusions into the Academy: a New On-Line Resource from the AAUP

AAUP vs. Academic Bill of Rights Campaign

Looking for Liberals in the Ivy League

Sex, Moral Values, and the Academic Bill of Rights
(from December, 2004 ASCCC Senate Rostrum)

CSU Senate Resolutions: Reaffirmation of Academic Freedom and Academic Freedom for Students

Center for Campus Free Speech

American Enterprise Institute debate with AAUP General Secretary
(Washington, DC, February 14th, 2005)

Freedom Under Microscope at CSUSM
(Bruce Kauffman, North County Times, March 23, 2005)

Classroom Speech Bill Debated
(Lisa Petrillo, San Diego Union-Tribune, March 23, 2005)