Standing Up for Academic Freedom

My article below which is currently featured in FrontPage Magazine is based on my recent letter to the sponsors of the New York Academic Bill of Rights presently in committee in the state legislature.

This is the story about an embattled student who stood up to challenge his incompetent radical professor and the dramatic outcome that ensued. Aaron Haberer is a student from Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), who received a failing grade for disputing his professor’s virulent anti-America, anti-religious demagoguery in the classroom. Aaron’s story is an example of the type of flagrant abuses of student academic rights that increasingly typifies much of the college experience today. This testimony is meant to show that the more students have the courage to complain, the better the chances that some action will be taken. Yet there are many such cases that never hit the radar. In most cases, school officials have failed to step in or come to the aid of a beleaguered student as they did in Aaron’s case, but though they may fear repercussions in their grades or careers, if enough students and faculty are bold enough to speak out when they experience professors infringing on their academic rights or using the classroom for indoctrination, then there is a greater likelihood that college administrators, trustees and faculty of good sense will step in to remove the bad apples before they infect the rest of the barrel. Read more...

Just before the New Year I had sent a letter via email and fax to the lead sponsor of the ABOR bill, State Senator DeFrancisco, and to over 50 New York State Senators, Assemblymen and Committeemembers who are involved with ABOR. After I received several formal replies as a matter of “Senatorial courtesy,” I spoke with John Googas, the chief of staff for my state representative, Senator Frank Padavan who mentioned that most of the legislative recipients would not even read the letter if I’m not one of their constituents. However I did receive one positive response from my mailing, copied below. That’s why it’s most urgent for concerned New Yorkers to write to their own state representatives and inform them about the abuse of the classroom for the purpose of political indoctrination, and ask them to support the ABOR legislation.

January 10, 2008

Dear Mr. Orenstein,

This is in response to your letter regarding Assembly Bill A4406, “to ensure that students enrolled in institutions of higher education receive exposure to a wide range of scholarly viewpoints, and to recognize the academic rights of faculty members.” Thank you for taking the time to write and advise me of your views and concerns.

This piece of legislation was referred to the Education Committee on February 2, 2007. Should this bill come to the floor of the Assembly for a full vote, I will be voting in favor of it; I am also signing on as a
multisponsor to this legislation.

If either my staff or I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at 845-463-1635 or via email at millerj@assembly,state.ny.us Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,

Joel M. Miller

Member of Assembly

102nd Assembly District

JMM/klp