It gets itself into a lot of trouble when the clergy, either men or women, do not behave according to the highest ethical ideals of the institution. We can t see having tenure as the equivalent of selling indulgences. We strongly supported the abolition of mandatory retirement. We need more data here, and a definition of incompetence or destructive behavior. Even if it s a small problem, it s an acute problem because of our need to welcome younger faculty members.
Academic freedom is the first and most traditional defense of tenure.
However, it is possible for a well-run institution to extend academic freedom to everyone who teaches. That s easy. The adjunct question is very difficult. It s going to blow up unless institutions confront it squarely and look at the conditions under which adjunct faculty are teaching. But some people want to do adjunct teaching, and some programs use adjuncts in ways that are perfectly appropriate.