Posted: January 15, 2021

Sponsor: Committee on Academic Freedom and Professional Status  of the Faculty (“The AFPSF”)

Background

This Faculty Statement on Academic Freedom and Responsibility was adopted by the University Faculty on May 11, 1960:

Academic Freedom for the Faculty means: Freedom of expression in the classroom on matters relevant to the subject and the purpose of the course and of choice of methods in classroom teaching; from direction and restraint in scholarship, research, and creative expression and in the discussion and publication of the results thereof; to speak and write as a citizen without institutional censorship or discipline.

Academic freedom is valued very highly at Cornell, and the University Faculty defends it tenaciously; nevertheless, the same University Faculty is disinclined to see the concept abused. Academic freedom does not imply immunity from prosecution for illegal acts of wrongdoing, nor does it provide license for faculty members to do whatever they choose.

While this statement is fine in itself, times have changed and there a need to reaffirm our commitment to these values in greater detail.

This 12/1/20 revision of the free speech text was presented at the Dec 2 Senate (12/1/20 slides).

A vote to adopt the revision at the Dec 16 Senate was postponed in light of these proposed amendments that were advanced by Professor Risa Lieberwitz.

Professor Lieberwitz, General Counsel Madelyn Wessel, and the AFPSF worked to produce this mutually acceptable  (1/14/21) revision of the free speech text. The AFPSF vote was 10-to-0 in support of the revision.

Trustee approval is required before the text is officially adopted.

The Resolution

Whereas Cornell University is totally committed to the principle of academic freedom, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression;

Be it resolved that the Faculty Senate supports the (1/14/21) revision of the 1960 statement.