Trustees reaffirm commitment to academic freedom
On September 30 several faculty members wrote to
President Shapiro regarding the commitment of the
University's board of trustees to the academic freedom of
all faculty members. On October 7 Robert Rawson '66, chair
of the executive committee, responded as follows on behalf
of the trustees.
President Shapiro's recent public statements have
strongly reaffirmed Princeton's unwavering support for
academic freedom. Because of the centrality of academic
freedom to this or any great university and because of
recent statements by Trustee Steve Forbes, President Shapiro
asked the Board at its recent meeting for its explicit
endorsement of the position he has articulated. The Trustees
present provided this endorsement unequivocally and
unanimously (not of course including Steve Forbes, who was
not present). There should be no question, on campus or off,
about the commitment of this Board--or this University--to
the principles of academic freedom.
The Trustees are extremely disappointed that Mr. Forbes
has chosen to attack publicly a faculty appointment (of
Professor Peter Singer) that the Trustees duly approved and
that was presented to the Board following long-established
procedures. In approving this or any faculty appointment,
the Board takes no position either endorsing or contesting
any of the views of those being appointed. The Trustees have
not, and will not, apply any ideological litmus test to the
appointment of distinguished scholars and teachers who are
recommended to the Board by the faculty, the faculty's
elected Advisory Committee on Appointments and Advancements,
and the President. As should be obvious to all, Princeton
demands the highest standards of scholarship and pedagogy in
all its faculty appointments, and the Board relies on the
faculty, the academic deans and the President to assure that
Princeton's core values and essential principles will be
honored and defended.
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