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IP: CUNY condemns professors
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2001 10:01:19 -0400
From: Kobrin <KobrinS () wharton upenn edu> To: "Dave Farber (E-mail)" <farber () cis upenn edu> TRUSTEES OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK have drafted a resolution condemning professors who criticized U.S. foreign policy at a teach-in earlier this week. Matthew Goldstein, the university's chancellor, also issued a statement saying the professors had offered "lame excuses" to justify the September 11 terrorist attacks. --> SEE http://chronicle.com/free/2001/10/2001100502n.htm While some comments about the events of September 11th have ignored the tragedy and just focused on perceived American responsibility, we either have the academic freedom to discuss this openly or we do not. We are getting close to the point where any one who raises questions about American policy before September 11th is seen as providing support and comfort to the terrorists. I have seen the term "fellow travelers" in use again. Those of us of a certain age well remember a time when major American universities fired tenured faculty for wrong thinking, going to the wrong meetings or "fellow traveling." During most of the Cold War, perceived threats were abstract rather than real. I suspect that most Americans were not continually concerned about a possible nuclear attack on their city. This time around the threat is very real and, in fact, we have been attacked. The freedom to speak one's mind, and especially to voice unpopular opinions will be even harder to maintain in this current climate. I fear that if we are not vigilant, we may well look back on HUAC as relatively benign. Stephen Kobrin
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