Newsgroups: bit.listserv.lawsch-l
Date:         Tue, 15 Dec 1992 04:24:49 -0500
From:         "Dr. Jagdish C. Agrawal, Professor" <F60C029@SAKSU00.BITNET>

I have rerad with interest the debate between Ms. Ann P. Mitchell and
Ms. Karen P. Scarr.  I am NOT a law student, but find that I do have
strong intellectual interest in Constitutional issues of Law.
I have been a university Professor for a long time in USA.  I believe
strongly in the ACADEMIC FREEDOM of the faculty.  At the same time
I believe that we, the faculty, have a strong obligation to exercise
that freedom with prudence.  Faculty members as a GROUP participate
in shaping and influencing the intellectual work and beliefs --
while in a democratic process, we should see to it that "A VIEW POINT
CONTRARY TO THAT OF MINE GETS ITS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD!"

A can differ with B, but A should defend the right of B to differ with
him(her) and vice-versa.  (Or is it that I am just plain too old-fashioned;
and the time is getting ripe for the successor of THIRD REICH?)

Intellectuals have an obligation to remain "objective" and not get
emotionally involved and border near subjectivity.  Ms. Ann Mitchell
expressed the opinion that she would have liked to "learn more" in
the law school she attended.  She has a fundamental right to express
that opinion.  If I was a faculty member at that University, I will
make note of such expressions ofr opinion from former students, and
examine them seriously.  At the same time, I'll take pride, that we
were part of the education process for students, who have expressed
desire to learn more about their subject.

Comments like "you don't learn anything in schools..." express
one's cynical beliefs, and while people are entitled to even such
beliefs, they do little towards improving our educational system.
Once you dismiss an entire educational system, we might as well
go back to the caves.

Best wishes and regards,

+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------+
| JAGDISH C. AGRAWAL, Ph.D.   | PROFESSOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE          |
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+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------+

We must constantly, here, now,
at once and everywhere,
withstand the temptation
to be utilitarian
and we must weigh what is true
against what is a lie,
what is genuine against what is false,
what is moral against what is immoral,
what is life-giving against what is
deadening.

We must never forget
that the first little lie
told in the interest of truth,
the first little injustice
committed in the name of justice,
the first tiny immorality
defended by the morality of things,
the first careless laps
in this constant vigilance
means the certain beginning of the end.

                                   ***
                         Hope is a dimension of the spirit.
                         It is not outside us but within us.
                         When you lose it you must seek it again
                         Within yourself
                         and with people around you
                         Not in objects
                         Or even in events.

                         Noetic Sciences Review
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