The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-01-22
Academic Freedom.

Is there real academic freedom In
American colleges and universities?
Are professors allowed to speak their
minds freely, or are they merely
"hired men" to be engaged and dis
charged without assigned cause at
the pleasure OF the university trus-
tees? These and other questions af-
fectlng free speech in American insti-
tutlons OF higher learning are dis
cussed by DR.. S. p. Capen, specialist
in higher education OF the bureau OF
education in his current review OF
the year made to the secretary OF the
interior.
THAT there is always some pres
sure exerted in academic communi-
ties, as elsewhere, to keep radical
propagandists quiet and to discourage
destructive criticism Of the existing
order none will deny" declares DR..
Capen. Its extent varies with the
institution. AS rule, 1t is exerted
subtly, often unconsciously In large
universities which are supposedly
free. Generally 1t vanishes as soon
as the right of free speech Is publicly
preached. Within the last two or
three years, however, there have been
so many occurrences of disciplinary
action directed by the trustees and
presidents of prominent institutions
against professors reputed to hold I'M
orthodox political, economics or re-
ligious views that the question OF
academic freedom has become tenn
porarily one of the foremost issues
in university administration. Upon
its correct settlement depends not
only the integrity of the universities
but, more remotely, the whole well
fare of American education.
1.-The question is particularly acute
in private foundations. Are the
trustees the employers Of all per-
sons connected with the university,
the owners of the business, as It
were, whose will Is law and not sub
ject to question? Has the faculty
moral, II not legal right to be
heard in matters relating to appoint
ments and dismissals? In state uni
versities the trustees are less likely
to resort to star chamber tactics be-
cause the public has the power to
force an accounting. Still. instances
are not unknown where the govern
ing boards of state institutions have
behaved as il the institutions under
their control belonged to them, and
neither the educational officers nor
the public had the right to demand
reasons for their acts. Are any
boards of trustees, whether of public
or private institutions, exempt from
responsibility to the public? Is any
university, even if partly or wholly
supported by private endowment, a
private institution? Does the meas
ure OF its accountability to the pub
lie differ from that OF the state uni
versity?"
Gases OF alleged breach Of the
academic freedom during the last
eighteen months, affecting Lafayette
College, the University of Utah, and
the University OF Pennsylvania, are
reviewed by DR.. Capen. together with
the findings in each case as deter
mined by organizations Of scholars
who have investigated. With regard
to the Nearing case at the University
of Pennsylvania, DR.. Capen says:
Because of DR.. Meanings advoca-
cy OF child-labor laws and his indict.
ment of various other forms Of in
dustrial injustice-activities which
have been sharply criticised in the
past by certain of the more conser,
vative elements among the constitu,
ency of the university-the press Of
the East and various groups of alum
nj, faculty and students have as
sumed that these activities consti
tute the grounds for his dismissal
The issue has been interpreted as one
of free speech. The case has seemed
to the friends of academic freedom
to be of sufficient Importance to jus.
tify its investigation by committee
OF the American Association OF Uni
versity Professors.