Academic freedom and studentship

Title

Creator

Mil, Edwin

Language

English

Year

1965

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

Academic Freedom and Studentship THE ESSENCE of a sound stu dentship is not just the sheer compliance with university proce dures; it is not a simple process of rule and obedience; nor is it the serving of the best interest of the administration in which students get credit for what they ought to learn instead of what they have actually learned. The said impres sions reflect an orderly student ship but lack or if not are devoid of color (criticism) and movement (freedom). Necessity requires the use of the free and exposed mind in any univ ersity. If a university is to enhance a well-rounded liberal education, then it should exist as a free mar ket of ideas not of spoon-fed “ought-to-do-these” things. Limit ed academic freedom in a univer sity would mean the protection of a common prejudice. This should not be so. Inasmuch as any univ ersity’s existence can be justified only through its commitment to the task of serving the best prin ciples of truth and service, then it should welcome any dissenting opinion, oral or written otherwise it cannot justify its existence. Much is observed regarding the limited academic freedom or limit ed exercise of the open mind in this university. I think it is of com mon knowledge that there has not been a single student rally in this university, not a single dissenting voice in the school paper, not a single organization yet formed strong enough to stand on its com mitments, favorable or unfavorable to the administration. This, of course, does not mean that I am expressing disregard to the univ ersity’s accepted manual of ethics. To think as such would be commit ting a big mistake. These views do not in any manner advocate re bellion of any kind, the writei' being fully aware that such a move would be detrimental to the interests, good image and over-all welfare of By EDWIN MIL AB-I this highly-esteemed university. Such attitude simply ask for a little respect for the free voice from any sector of the student body, in any aspect of university life. I think every USC student can sense the deep sense of mutual respect among fellow students in this university, each one having a regard of the esteem and high moral values of USC. But as I said the emphasis is not on disrespect but the giving of credit where cre dit is due and proper, leaving no compromise between truth and error. If issues raised by some students, their opinions should be well-considered as long as their ideas are based on fairness and tempered with a sense of social res ponsibility. A university’s role is the integ ration of the human mind and the development of a student’s person ality. Its power is not dominion over students but as a guideline for every student in his search for “greener pastures”. His desire to acquire the best from a college or a university like the USC should not further the interests of only the favored few, or it would be protecting a common prejudice. The respect for the free voice would then include the lenient cen sorship in Carolinian contributions to ensure a free student press; an “it-takes-all-kinds” form of elec tions with emphasis on the open discussion of programs and plat forms by the contending parties and a student-sponsored pre-elec tion forum where every student gets the opportunity to hear the merits and demerits of the candi dates ; a student government purely for students and by students or the total independence of the student government, meaning the non interference of the university in student governmental affairs; a creation of a special panel to con duct a series of group discussions or inter-departmental debates touching on any topic from politics to religion; respect for criticism and freedom of in the formation of student organizations as long as these organizations can define its motives, justify its commitments and categorically state its stand. All these things when considered would keep the wheels of sound studentship turning. We the stu dents would like to enjoy fervently these “luxuries” of university life. There is an asserted combination of minds in this university. There are good students, brilliant stu dents, pseudo-intellectuals and stu dents who have the delusion that they are intellectuals, and the intel lectual snobs. But good, brilliant, pseudo-intellectual, or intellectual snobs as they are, their minds have been “dormant”, their ideas public ly unexpressed, their views unheard of and their drive and determina tion restrained. So, I believe it needs more or less another drive to trigger off these sleeping minds and still another drive to keep them going. Once again I would like to re affirm my faith in the university and my belief in its sincerity in carrying out its role of integrating the mind and molding the students’ personalities. I look forward to that day when the proper offices of this university would welcome the mentioned “fundamentals of a sound studentship.” Aug.-Sept., 1965 THE CAROLINIAN Page Eleven

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