The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-26
IS THERE ACADEMIC
FREEDOM IN AMERICA
Ia q Professor IA Hired Man" or Has
He Right of Free Speech-Ques-
ton Acute.

Is there real freedom in American
colleges and universities? Are profess
sors allowed to speak their minds
freely, or are they merely hired men. "
to be engaged and discharged without
assigned cause at the pleasure of the
university trustees? These and other
questions affecting free speech in
American institutions of higher learn
ing are discussed by DIR. s. p. Capen,
specialist In higher education of the
Bureau of Education In his current
view of the year made TO the Secrez
tary OF the Interior.
That there is always some pressure
exerted in academic communities. as
elsewhere, to keep radical propagan-
dists quiet and to discourage destruc-
tive criticism of the existing order
none will deny" declares DR.. Capen.
Its extent varies with the institution.
As a rule, IL Is exerted subtly. often
unconsctously, in large universities.
which are supposedly free. Generally
1t vanishes as soon as the right OF
free speech is publicly preached.
Within the past two or three years.
however, there have been so many re-
currences of disciplinary action di-
rected by trustees and presidents OF
prominent institutions against profess
sors reputed to hold unorthodox poll
teal. economic, or religious views that
the question of academic freedom
has become temporarily one of the
foremost issues in university admins
tration. Upon its correct settlement
universities. but, NOR. remotely. the
whole welfare of American educa-
ton.
The question Is particularly acute
in private foundations. Are the truss
tees the employers OF all persons con-
nected with the university. the owners
Of the business, as l. we're, whose will
ID law and not subject to question
Has the faculty a moral, IL not a legal,
right to be heard in matters relating
to appointments and dismissals? In
State universities the trustees are less
likely to resort to star chamber tactics
because the public has the power to
force an accounting. Still, instances
are not unknown where the governing
boards OF State institutions have be-
haved 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 public or private institutions,
exempt from responsibility to the pub
lie? Is any university, even IL partly
or wholly supported by private en-
dowment. a private institution? Does
the measure OF It's accountability to
the public differ from that of the State
university
Cases Of alleged breach Of academic
freedom during the past eighteen
months, affecting Lafayette College,
the University Of Utah and the Uni
versity OF Pennsylvania. are reviewed
by DIR. Capen. together with the And
ings in each case as determined by
erg: nizations Of scholars who have in
vestigated. With regard to the Near
ing case at the University Of Penn
sylvania, DR.. Capen says:
Because of DR.. Meanings advocacy
of child labor laws and his indict-
ment of various other forms Of indus
trial injustice-activitfes which have
been sharply criticized in the past
by certain Of the more conservative
elements among the constituency Of
the university--the press Of the East
and various groups OF alumni, faculty
and students have assumed that these
activities constitute the grounds for
his dismissal. The issue has been in
terpreted as one OF free speech. The
case has seemed to the friends OF aca-
demic freedom to be o" SUFFICIENT i'm
portance to justify it's investigation by
a committee Of the American Associa-
ton Of University Professors"