Controversial and Contradictory: Historical and Contemporary Apologies for (a Lack of) Faculty Academic Freedom

Although academic freedom is considered a pillar of the academy in United States, little legal precedent has been established to legitimize faculty freedom. Moreover, no legislation or case law outlines hierarchy whereby institutional may be positioned as authoritative over vice versa. As result, many institutions higher education have violated and then subsequently apologized for overstepping boundaries, stemming from infringing upon individuals’ rights that not codified through law. These apologies include very recent one, where university president’s remorseful remark regarding contradicted system’s own definition freedom, further blurring concept. In this instance, Texas Attorney General filed brief stating did exist, provoking an apologetic statement state flagship’s president. This case, along with others surveyed paper, illustrate perennial struggle outline freedoms protections individuals working within learning. cases highlight unresolved tension between which continue blur concept Ultimately, balancing require neither another. However, it important aware specifics their at institution. we how one system (The University Texas) grants certain but does explicitly guarantee forcing rhetoric.