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DE Stands Up For Academic Freedom

In today's Contra Costa Times, DE responded to an article which inferred that the University may discipline Y*o for his opinions during work for the Bush administration. Click on the title of this post for a link.

Please note that I do not include an opinion here as to torture memo's, or any other work by Professor Y*o. While I know that there are people who have strong opinions on both sides, MY belief is that this country, and even moreso this university, should be a place where people may express their views freely, honestly, and constructively. Professor Y*o did work in the service of this country, even if you disagree that it was the correct path for the country to go. He was doing what he thought was right, even though it may turn out that he was wrong.

Remember that a University is not a court of law, and is not a judge on whether academic views are correct, legal, or just. As DE discusses in the article, it would be a step back for academic freedom to punish someone for expressing views that foster academic debate. If Professor Y*o did something illegal, it is for prosecutors and courts to decide---not Berkeley.

I commend DE for standing up for one of our Professors. Even if you disagree with Professor Y*o (and many at Boalt do), we should all be glad that McCarthy-esque witch-hunts will not be tolerated by the leaders of our school.

Thank you Boalt, and thank you, DE.

Full post as published by Nuts & Boalts on April 04, 2009 (boomark / email).