Category: Academic Freedom
Scholars at Risk’s Free Online Course on Academic Freedom
The Scholars at Risk (SAR) Network has developed a free massive open online course (MOOC) on academic freedom titled Dangerous Questions: Why Academic Freedom Matters.
Ethics of Analysis: Learning Analytics and Academic Libraries
Many academic institutions–and their libraries–are using learning analytics to improve their services and reach out to students who need help, but when does data collection cross the line and become surveillance?
Banned Books to Dissident Scholars: Promoting Higher Education Values to Curb Censorship
Over the last several years, the state of academic freedom around the world has ushered renewed scrutiny. Yet how often do we consider how remarkable it is to engage in dialogue and debate about the key concept that protects the very space that allows us to do so?
Keeping Archives Active: Access to the Past for a More Peaceful Future
By preserving stories from all sides, supporting efforts to teach history in a holistic fashion, and honoring multiple perspectives, vibrant libraries and archives can be an important ingredient in moving beyond sectarianism.
Paywall: The Business of Scholarship – A review & discussion with Director Jason Schmitt
The documentary, which is well worth watching, delves into the large profit margins of the major scholarly publishers and the risings costs to subscribers, the growing open access movement, and the paradox posed by a system where much of the labor force (authors and editors) work for free, then have their institutions pay to access the content later.
Chinese Professor Suspended After Speaking Out About President Jinping
Following the publication of his more recent Imminent Fears piece, Xu was allegedly ordered by university officials to stop “all teaching and research” and take a pay cut. A university “work team” would also be investigating him and the essays he has been writing.
The Past & Future of Free Collecting with Liana Zhou, Kinsey Institute
Liana Zhou, Director of the Library and Special Collections of the Kinsey Institute, shares her story and discusses the past, present, and future of the Kinsey Institute, sexuality, archiving, and intellectual freedom.
Balancing Perceptions of Historical Truth in Schools
Living in a post-fact or “fake news” society poses significant challenges to educators, particularly when it comes to history learning standards. Do you know who creates standards in your state? Debates over historical truths, biased distortions, and unpatriotic historical interpretations open the door for political influence in learning standards, directly impacting the historical and civic educations of today’s students.
Banned Book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is America’s ‘Best-Loved’ Novel
Part of the reason that the novel is so well loved, I think, is because it challenged so many of us to think about difficult issues. Whether we continue to teach Mockingbird or choose to move on to another, more modern book, one important lesson from Mockingbird will live on – we will continue to read, and love, our banned books.
Dispatches from the Houghton Library, Part Two: Who’s In and Who’s Out?
Are admissions policies at the world’s most exclusive colleges fair? How do they even determine what “fair” is? And does this presence or absence of fairness affect our intellectual freedom?