Academics Have a Responsibility to Speak Out Against Palestine Repression
Alan Singer | 29 October 2024 | Truthout
In times of crisis, academics must be public intellectuals. Why invest our lives in becoming experts in history, society, policy, science, or any other field of study and then remain isolated in an academic cocoon for safety or career advancement? The consequences of silence for our profession and our society are too great.
Recent events on college campuses have made it clear that academic freedom in the classroom is not safe if the public role of academics is unsafe. During the summer, while most faculty and students were off campus, university administrators across the country, without any faculty input, enacted new regulations to silence dissent on campus. Actions by both students and faculty will be sharply restricted. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing Indiana University over newly imposed time restrictions on political expression. The ACLU suit argues that the rules prohibit people from talking about politics to a friend or standing silently with a sign during restricted times…