The fourth floor of Saint Xavier University was host to the SXU Academic Freedom panel on October 24, 2018.
Professors and students alike gathered to discuss their opinions on their experiences and hurdles that they faced when trying to achieve their academic goals.
After a brief introduction by Dr. Neil Younkin, an Associate Professor of Management at the Graham School of Management, the panel began. Sarah Minnich, cofounder of SXU Students for Life, lead first discussion.
Minnich relayed her organizations experiences regarding vandalism, saying posters of hers were “being torn down”.
She said that such actions were an attempt to silence her cause, instead of having a discussion with mutual respect. A discussion would facilitate the understanding of both sides’ point of view, and at a school where ideas and argument are encouraged, vandalism seemed hypocritical.”
Minnich also shared that she often felt intimidation or worry when the opportunity came to share her views, because the college landscape tends to lean more liberal.
In closing, Minnich said that her goal above all else was to reaffirm Academic Freedom and the Freedom of Speech.
Following suit was Professor Peter Kirstein. Kirstein is a Professor of History and former Vice President of Illinois AAUP(American Association of University Professors).
Kirstein began with a definition. “Academic Freedom means the teachers’ right to teach, and the students’ right to learn.”
He mentioned that when the Supreme Court Justice , William J. Brennan, said, “Our nation is deeply committed to safeguarding academic freedom, which is of transcendent value to all of us, and not merely to teachers concerned. That freedom is therefore a special concern of the First Amendment, which does not tolerate laws that cast a pall of orthodoxy over the classroom….The vigilant protection of constitutional freedom is nowhere more vital than in the community in American schools”.
He once again reiterated a previous point, stating “Ladies and gentlemen: if teachers are not free to teach, then students are not free to learn.”
He then reflected upon a time where a high school community tried to use the paper to tell stories of instances like teenage pregnancy and a Supreme Court ruled that the school had the right to censor stories that were told using mediums reserved by the school, such as newspapers.
Kirstein even noted his observations of the oppression of Academic Freedom at Saint Xavier University, noting that he’d love to see more activity from the SXU Student Justice for Palestine organization.
Paige Samuels then took the podium.
A political science major, Samuels opened with a statistic; 54% of students aren’t comfortable with expressing their opinions on the college campus.
Samuels also noted that something she ever considered when discussing Academic Freedom was the differences between how public and private colleges operate, although she didn’t expand on those differences.
Samuels was also the first to reference a previous speakers point. Kirstein mentioned that schools shouldn’t censor the speakers that people desire, using a KKK member as an example.
Samuels rebutted, “I agree we should have open discussion with opposing sides, but I don’t think that means we need the KKK here. I just don’t.”
After her panel, Kirstein chimed in, “I just want to say that don’t think we should invite the KKK here. I just think that we should have people from far left or far right to be able to hear both sides.”
Dr. Tony Campbell was the final original speaker.
As the Dean and Vice president of Student Affairs, Campbell started off stating that his options were not a reflection of Saint Xavier University.
He went on to mention many people that he fought to have represented as speakers, including Mike Huckabee, Donna Brazile, Michael Moore, and others.
Interestingly, he recalled a protest at Saint Xavier University, where students wanted to participate in kneeling during the National Anthem for a football game in 2017.
Students approached him with concerns of their safety, and as a result, he had public safety officials monitor the game to ensure the student’s First Amendment Right could be exercised safely.
After Campbell spoke, the panel was open to questions from the audience.
Only one question had the time to be discussed: opinions on the necessity of safe spaces.
Samuels argued that safe spaces are a critical part of campus life and having areas to feel safe are invaluable.
Campbell felt that areas to recharge student’s social batteries and temporarily avoid conflict in the form of safe spaces are welcome additions to have to campus.
Minnich interjected that safe spaces are actually places at restrict conversation and vocabulary for the sake of comfort and have an unrealistic image compared to the “real world”.
Minnich went on to say that safe spaces on campus left students unprepared for when they encounter conflict outside the walls of the university.
Younkin cut off the discussion when time was winding down, saying that he was actually pretty confused during the debate because he didn’t actually know what a safe space is and the room’s mood lightened from the laughter of the audience.
Eric Perez
News Reporter