"This misguided bill, promoted by anti-free speech activist David Horowitz, is a politically motivated attempt to curb learning on campus by forcing an ideological agenda and limiting the free exchange of ideas," said Megan Fitzgerald, director of the Center for Campus Speech, one of the 10 organizations comprising the coalition. Fitzgerald's organization and others who oppose ABOR note that despite assertions of political bias, Horowitz and his supporters have failed to produce any significant evidence to support his claim.

Twenty-four states have introduced ABOR legislation that would limit speech by faculty members on a range of topics. In most of these states, the bill has failed, yet Horowitz continues to find conservative legislators willing to sponsor legislation to limit campus speech and academic freedom.

Last month, Horowitz cast a further pall on higher education with the publication of a blacklist of U.S. faculty.  Called The Professors, Horowitz labels the professors he profiles as "the 101 most dangerous academics in America." The profiles are cobbled together with partial quotes, mischaracterizations and out-of-context statements that mislead about professors' free expression outside the classroom.

One of the professors singled out, Lawrence Estrada, an associate professor of ethnic studies at Western Washington University, spoke at the press conference about the "distortions, damaging inferences and out-and-out fabrications" that riddled both the book and his individual profile, in which he is described as a "radical ethnic separatist."

"Having been a Marine during the Vietnam era and a holder of public office in two states speaks to how preposterous these charges are," said Estrada. There are unintended consequences to Horowitz's actions, he added. "I have been in contact with a few junior faculty members who now feel vulnerable, isolated and who fear that their careers are now in jeopardy. Some have received threatening notes and e-mail and have students who attend their classes solely to report on their lectures and course content."

Fitzgerald outlined some of the steps Free Exchange will take to stand up for free speech, including organizing students and faculty to testify in states where legislatures are considering ABOR, putting out information via the Internet and the Free Exchange blog, writing op-eds and moving quickly to counter misinformation promulgated by enemies of academic freedom. Additionally, the coalition will produce reports, sponsor advertising, book speakers into campus and community events and line up allies who support academic freedom and free speech in higher education.  Earlier this month, as a result of the coalition's efforts, the AFL-CIO passed a resolution opposing the Academic Bill of Rights as well as any state and federal legislation designed to limit free speech on campus.

Elena Cross, a student at Pennsylvania State University, said that her university had been unable to document problems of bias. At the recent request of a legislator, Penn State President Graham Spanier turned over five years' worth of records of student complaints of bias. The total came to 13, reported Cross, and all were resolved with investigations that found no improper bias. "This investigation," she said, covering "177,457 courses, around 8,000 faculty, and 80,000 students at all of the Penn State campuses," is significant and offers a meaningful finding.

Lisa Klein, a fully tenured professor of material sciences and engineering, and the Rutgers University AAUP/AFT chapter president cited attacks on research scientists. She noted that on scientific topics such as global warming, hard data is often challenged and professors personally attacked for their research. "There is no liberal scientific method or conservative scientific method, but we have already seen challenges to academic freedom in the sciences," she said.  She opposes ABOR, she added, because "any attack on academic freedom, either perceived or real, means that students will not be exposed to ideas that are new or contentious or unconventional.  This to me seems truly unfortunate and a disservice to students."

More information is available at www.freeexchangeoncampus.org. Organizations in the Free Exchange of Campus coalition include:

American Association of University Professors
American Civil Liberties Union
American Federation of Teachers
Campus Progress/Center for American Progress
Center for Campus Free Speech
National Association of State PIRGs
National Education Association/NEA Student Program
People For the American Way Foundation /Young People For
Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood
United States Student Association

Contact:
Jamie Horwitz (AFT)
(202) 879-4447
[email protected]