Show us that you can, if we insist, treat us like men and women, each responsible for his actions. Show us, please, that whether or not you approve of our form of morality, at least you have heard it. The propositions are in conformity with the Constitution of the United States. As a layman I am guided by the opinions of colleagues who are experts in the field of law. The Council of the American Association of University Professors asked a committee to draft a statement concerning the academic freedom of students for consideration by the Council.
Alternative policies are unworkable.
A long series of efforts by the Administration of the University of California to devise University regulations preschibing the permissible content of student political speech and activity has convinced me thaht such efforts lead only to controversy and disturbance. The University is not equipped to draw up or to enforce criminal laws. Even if such an undertaking were warranted in principle, it would require the creation of an elaborate system of police and courts quite out of keeping with the functions of the University as an institution of teaching and research. Criminal prosecutions shouldbe left to the civil authorities. The students I have talked with understand fully that if they break the laws they must expect to be punished by the courts.