Thursday, February 16, 2006
Comments for: "Academic Freedom, Catholic Education, and the Vagina Monologues"
This post is provided as a forum for comments for the Left2Right post:
Academic Freedom, Catholic Education, and the Vagina Monologues
posted on 02/16/2006Freedom is freedom for truth. Error has no rights. This was the perspective of the Catholic Church for many centuries. It was used to support censorship and persecution in many countries. The same perspective was employed by Protestant countries for...
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# posted by Bret @ 9:50 AM 
The current discussion about academic freedom at Notre Dame (where I teach) is embarrassing in many ways.
The President of the University (a fellow member of the philosophy department) has not even displayed a basic understanding of academic freedom in American higher education. I'm not asserting that he doesn't have an understanding of it, but to date he has not displayed this understanding if he has it. How could he display it? Well, he has said in public remarks that there is a tension between academic freedom, as involved in departmental sponsorship of events such as the Vagina Monologues and Queer Film Festival, and the "catholic character" of the University. Rather than just saying this, it would surely help the discussion if he would explain what he takes to be the commitments of the orthodox view of academic freedom and his understanding of Catholic character. But he does not do this. Similarly, he could explain what changes to the normal understanding of academic freedom would have to be made at Notre Dame in order to eliminate the "tension" that he claims to see. But he does not do this either. Instead, he has simply "begun a discussion" (or the public appearance of a discussion -- to my knowledge he has not met with faculty with views opposing his on this issue though he has met with faculty who support banning various events from campus).
This is a sad moment for Notre Dame.
The President of the University (a fellow member of the philosophy department) has not even displayed a basic understanding of academic freedom in American higher education. I'm not asserting that he doesn't have an understanding of it, but to date he has not displayed this understanding if he has it. How could he display it? Well, he has said in public remarks that there is a tension between academic freedom, as involved in departmental sponsorship of events such as the Vagina Monologues and Queer Film Festival, and the "catholic character" of the University. Rather than just saying this, it would surely help the discussion if he would explain what he takes to be the commitments of the orthodox view of academic freedom and his understanding of Catholic character. But he does not do this. Similarly, he could explain what changes to the normal understanding of academic freedom would have to be made at Notre Dame in order to eliminate the "tension" that he claims to see. But he does not do this either. Instead, he has simply "begun a discussion" (or the public appearance of a discussion -- to my knowledge he has not met with faculty with views opposing his on this issue though he has met with faculty who support banning various events from campus).
This is a sad moment for Notre Dame.
Fritz,
Regarding your concern over your view of the Notre Dame President's lack of ability to display understandings of academic freedom and "catholic character", my suggestion would be to take a hard look at the approach to the Vagina Monologues of Providence College President Fr. Shanley, who makes both very clear.
http://www.providence.edu/Administration/Presidents+Office/Vagina+Monologues.htm
Regarding the first, see specifically paragraph 5. He says, "The true meaning of academic freedom is often misunderstood; it is not the license to hold any view that one chooses. Academic freedom is instead always governed by truth."
Regarding the second, my hope is that your President, when referring to "catholic character", is simply referring to actions and endorsements of such contrary to or in violation of Catholic Church teaching. Again, Fr. Shanley easily does a solid job of placing "The Vagina Monologues" into this category in paragraphs 2 & 3.
Perhaps your should approach your president with your concerns and a copy of Fr. Shanley's letter as guide.
Respectfully and to be honest Fritz, the vibe I get from your post is that your concern has less to do with frustration over your President's inability to display understandings of academic freedom and catholic character and more to do with your frustration over differences in those understandings themselves between you and him. I mean, are you seriously lost on his objections to the activities mentioned? C'mon Fritz.
An even cursory glance at a Catechism regarding these topics will clear things up. Then again, does a copy of the Catechism even remain anywhere on campus up there these days? Hmmm.
I am not close to the action, however, I tend to disagree with you...rather than a sad moment, I think this could be perhaps the beginning of the beginning of many happy moments to come at ND.
Respectfully,
Sean
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Regarding your concern over your view of the Notre Dame President's lack of ability to display understandings of academic freedom and "catholic character", my suggestion would be to take a hard look at the approach to the Vagina Monologues of Providence College President Fr. Shanley, who makes both very clear.
http://www.providence.edu/Administration/Presidents+Office/Vagina+Monologues.htm
Regarding the first, see specifically paragraph 5. He says, "The true meaning of academic freedom is often misunderstood; it is not the license to hold any view that one chooses. Academic freedom is instead always governed by truth."
Regarding the second, my hope is that your President, when referring to "catholic character", is simply referring to actions and endorsements of such contrary to or in violation of Catholic Church teaching. Again, Fr. Shanley easily does a solid job of placing "The Vagina Monologues" into this category in paragraphs 2 & 3.
Perhaps your should approach your president with your concerns and a copy of Fr. Shanley's letter as guide.
Respectfully and to be honest Fritz, the vibe I get from your post is that your concern has less to do with frustration over your President's inability to display understandings of academic freedom and catholic character and more to do with your frustration over differences in those understandings themselves between you and him. I mean, are you seriously lost on his objections to the activities mentioned? C'mon Fritz.
An even cursory glance at a Catechism regarding these topics will clear things up. Then again, does a copy of the Catechism even remain anywhere on campus up there these days? Hmmm.
I am not close to the action, however, I tend to disagree with you...rather than a sad moment, I think this could be perhaps the beginning of the beginning of many happy moments to come at ND.
Respectfully,
Sean
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: 8:06 AM
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