Ward Churchill Solidarity Network

Context

Academic Freedom

The “Laws” of the Regents of the University of Colorado, Art. 5.D state:

The University of Colorado was created and is maintained to afford men and women a liberal education in the several branches of literature, arts, sciences, and the professions. These aims can be achieved only in that atmosphere of free inquiry and discussion, which has become a tradition of universities and is called “academic freedom.”

For this purpose, “academic freedom” is defined as the freedom to inquire, discover, publish and teach truth as the faculty member sees it, subject to no control or authority save the control and authority of the rational methods by which truth is established. . . .

Faculty members have the responsibility to maintain competence, exert themselves to the limit of their intellectual capacities in scholarship, research, writing, and speaking; and to act on and off the campus with integrity and in accordance with the highest standards of their profession. While they fulfill this responsibility, their efforts should not be subjected to direct or indirect pressures or interference from within the university, and the university will resist to the utmost such pressures or interference when exerted from without. . . .

Faculty members can meet their responsibilities only when they have confidence that their work will be judged on its merits alone. For this reason the appointment, reappointment, promotion, and tenure of faculty members . . . should not be influenced by such extrinsic considerations as political, social, or religious views. . . . A disciplinary action against a faculty member, including dismissal for cause of faculty, should not be influenced by such extrinsic consideration. . . .

(Amended 10/26/90, 5/6/93, 8/7/97, 10/16/97, 02/19/98, 03/19/98, 08/03/00, and 10/10/02. Appendix A Standards, Processes and Procedures Document shall remain in effect until rewritten as a regent policy.)

The University of Colorado (CU) has consistently and blatantly violated these laws in its treatment of Ward Churchill. Furthermore, in March 2005, when CU was discussing a settlement with Professor Churchill, one of his conditions was that the Regents reaffirm these – their own – principles of academic freedom. They refused.
Those who would undermine academic freedom across the country have made Ward Churchill their primary target, but numerous other professors around the country have come similar attack. A few of these many cases will be highlighted here. Send information on other cases to: wcsn@wardchurchill.net

• University of Hawai’i administrator threatens to cuts off funding after failing to silence agriculture professor

Indigenous Issues

Indigenous Scholars and Allies Condemn CU’s Attacks on Ward Churchill as Attempts to Reinforce Mainstream Historical Perspectives and Undermine Indigenous, Ethnic and Gender Studies

• Resolution From The Emergency Summit Of Scholars And Activists Defending Critical Thinking And Indigenous Studies, Lawrence, Ks, September 29-30, 2006

If you would like to add your name to this resolution, send an e-mail to wcsn@wardchurchill.net. Please include name and identification as you would prefer it to be listed, and an e-mail address where we can contact you.