We are students in the Honors College here at Ball State, and we felt compelled to share with the student body at large some of our feelings regarding the recent issues of academic freedom on our campus. In elementary school we are all taught that bullying is not allowed or tolerable and we feel the need to stand up for professors in our college who are being bullied by professionals who have no tie to this academic institution. Thus, we present our beliefs about academic freedom in the collegiate environment.
We believe that critical thinking can only be manifested in environments which welcome conflicting ideas and consideration of all points of view. By promoting intellectual discussion of all viewpoints the university promotes higher level thinking and greater discernment of truth by its student body.
We believe that no ideas, beliefs or opinions should be excluded from discussion and consideration in an academic setting. The collegiate experience should teach that ideas need not be mutually exclusive and that through intelligent discussion and consideration students grow in their own understanding, opinions, beliefs and values.
We believe that the mission of higher education should be to educate students on engaging their right to gather and use knowledge. By censoring topics in classroom curricula, collegiate organizations controvert their mission and cripple the ability of students to fully exercise their rights.
We believe that students should ultimately decide what they believe and that professors should present all available facts as objectively as possible. It is wrong of any institution to intentionally hide or limit what information is seen as “proper” for student consideration.
We believe that neither science nor religion are sacred on the college campus. They should be challenged not only by each other but also by faculty and students alike. By challenging the assumptions of both faith and logic, we gain a greater ability to believe and reason.
It should be, in our opinion, the mission of all students and administrators to promote the freedom of professors to pursue controversial topics in the classroom without fear of censorship, professional criticism or other consequences.
Sincerely,
Dustin Meeks
Kaylie DiGiacomo
