Harvard’s Dean of Social Sciences caused a stir on June 15 with an op-ed in the Harvard Crimson, suggesting that professors could face consequences for public statements that might provoke outside parties like alumni and donors to intervene in university affairs. The implication seemed to target faculty critical of the dean’s ally, former president Claudine Gay, sparking controversy as noted by Jonathan Adler.
In response, a rebuttal was published on June 20 in the Chronicle of Higher Education. The piece criticized Dean Bobo’s stance, stating:
Bobo’s arguments may have been acceptable in 1900, but they are alarming in 2024. Unfortunately, they align with a trend seeking to limit faculty expression. The notion is that professors can speak freely as long as they don’t challenge authority. The 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure outlines the rules for faculty speech, emphasizing the importance of academic freedom and discouraging censorship. Harvard’s free-expression policy further emphasizes the need for dissent and critique within the university community.
The article emphasizes the importance of upholding academic freedom and the right to dissent within academic institutions. To delve deeper into the discussion, the full article can be accessed here (subscription required).
