Thursday, February 17, 2005

Academic Freedom Cont'd: Yet more on Ohio Senate bill 24

The Faculty Senate at Ohio University unanimously passed a resolution opposing Ohio Senate Bill 24, which calls for the establishment of a so-called 'Academic Bill of Rights.'" More. Churchill here.

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Assault on Academic Freedom

The Ohio Senate's consideration of Senate Bill #24 has stirred predictably hilarious responses from the left. Predictable in that commentators rant, but don't critique the proposed legislation. Predictable, because anytime a light is shone in a sacred dark corner, the left screams.

Summaries of reactions are available here, here, and here.

The most cogent argument against the legislation is that it is unnecessary because the faculty handbook at several universities in Ohio contain language consistent with the core point driving the legislation. The unanswered question is: are university administrators enforcing their own regulations?

As I pointed out elsewhere, administrators at universities in Ohio should regard this legislation as a warning shot that the legislature is serious about university students receiving the education they believe they are purchasing. And that, ultimately, is what this is about.

Some argue that student evaluations, if made public, would provide students the information needed to avoid classes taught by serial airbags. In theory, this could work. In practice, if a single faculty member teaches all sections of one or more required classes, students cannot dodge individual faculty members and proceed in that degree program.

Welcome!

Two questions are likely at the forefront of your mind:
  1. Why the name? Birkenstock Conservative because, well, I'm a Birkenstock wearing conservative. Birkenstocks don't define me. They're just so darned comfy. The left believes it owns the "Birkenstock crowd." Not true. Case in point. Moi (that's an attempt at French as, I believe, French is the only language spoken by the left).
  2. Why the blog? Political events occasionally inspire me blog. As such ruminations aren't appropriate for Digito-Society, my primary blog, an alternate outlet seemed approprite.