The issue of academic freedom has come to the fore again with the case of the Binghamton basketball scandal. At its heart, the question is whether all students can expect fair treatment or whether those of privilege will get a free ride. This time, it is about basketball players and grades. In Illinois, it was about needing to “know someone” to even get accepted into the university. Each new revelation attacks the basic integrity of higher education and puts all of the work we do in jeopardy.

The importance of academic freedom is not just as an individual member’s right, but rather as a social right, one that ensures basic fairness in the higher education system. By allowing each UUP member to exercise his or her right to teach classes without interference and to speak out on important issues without retaliation, we protect more than an individual’s rights—we protect the integrity of our system.

Academic freedom would be of little importance if our members only spoke-up on noncontroversial issues. It is when difficult issues arise, and when “good people” disagree, that academic freedom becomes the most important. It would be easy to stay quiet and protect our college and university sports teams. It would be easy to stay quiet when racism, sexism or other social injustices take place. Academic freedom takes away these excuses and strengthens civil discourse.

In the Binghamton case, we need to applaud Chancellor Zimpher for calling on Binghamton University to reinstate professor Sally Dear, the contingent faculty member who brought to light the alleged grading problem at that campus (see related story, below). It would have been easy for the chancellor to say that “other issues” or “financial problems” were the reason for the nonrenewal (which one could argue is the standard line in a case like this). Instead, the chancellor asked for an outside investigation.

UUP continues to monitor this situation and work to protect members who might find themselves in a position where doing the right thing puts their job on the line.

Instead of pressuring professors to give the basketball team better grades, would it not have been better for these young men to be given tutors and mandatory study sessions?

When universities attack those who bring up the importance of education, they are letting down all of our students and they are saying that academic integrity does not matter.

We need to applaud those who put themselves forward, and we must stand with them to protect our rights.