Most college students begin formulating their political identities during the early years of their matriculation. Students, within their rights, expect an environment where academics encourage and nurture intellectual curiosity while fellow peers recognize and respect ideological diversity.

During this period of development, many students may reject populist ideology prevalent throughout higher education. Because of these beliefs, some find themselves in an intimidating and discriminatory environment where the pressure to conform or suppress beliefs is heavy. Students may begin to realize that a double standard exists in academia. An adherence to openness, tolerance, acceptance, and of dissent means little if it is not sincerely practiced.

The purpose of a university is the discovery and pursuit of knowledge. Freedom of speech within the academic community is essential in achieving these goals. In order for this freedom to exist, the appropriate environment and conditions must exist throughout campus, including classrooms, lecture halls, and academic villages.

According to the Bill of Rights of the nationwide coalition Students for Academic Freedom, ‘The concept of academic freedom has been premised on the idea that human knowledge is a never-ending pursuit of the truth, that there is no humanly accessible truth that is not in principle open to challenge, and that no party or intellectual faction has a monopoly on wisdom. Therefore, academic freedom is most likely to thrive in an environment of intellectual diversity that protects and fosters independence of thought and speech.’

Academics are scholars in pursuit of knowledge. College is a laboratory for the formulation and exchange of ideas. It is a disservice to academia when intellectual diversity is stifled. How is one ever to be assertive in one’s views while never knowing and understanding other ideological viewpoints?

Those of us who wish to be afforded the opportunity to explore and publish our intellectual curiosities to further enhance the exchange of ideas, should not be persecuted for our beliefs by either academics or fellow peers. If one scholar disagrees with another, professional and reasoned criticism should be employed rather than viscous personal attacks on the character of those who have an opinion averse to yours.

Christopher N. Malagisi is a Graduate pursuing a Master’s of Public Administration at the Maxwell School. E-mail him at cnmalagi@maxwell.syr.edu.

Published on April 4, 2004 at 12:00 pm