Letters to the Editor

Freedom of Speech Comes From the People, not the Military

To the Editor:
In regards to Michael Podberesky’s editorial (“The Real ‘Truth’ About the Academies, Oct. 15): The conclusion that “the soldier gives us freedom of speech” has become an article of faith in political discourse in recent years, but the truth is that every dictatorship and totalitarian regime has an army. A military can protect the Republic from without, but lacking an active and well-informed citizenry, the Republic will crumble from within, and the soldier will have no freedoms to protect.

Adam Serwer, Journalism
Oct. 15, 2007

Mudslinging Invalidates Arguments and Has No Place on Opinion Page

To the Editor:
“The Real ‘Truth’ About the Academies,” Michael’s Podberesky’s refutation of Idris Leppla’s “The Truth About the Academies,” would be a lot more convincing if Podberesky didn’t feel the need to throw in a snide comment about Barnard College’s US News and World Report ranking. Podberesky’s blatant hypocrisy weakens his entire argument.
Ironically, the insult adds weight to Podberesky’s contention that Spectator’s editors should have paid closer attention to Leppla’s statements about the military academies. They should also have paid closer attention to Podberesky’s careless and unnecessary mudslinging at members of the Columbia community. Spectator’s readers expect and deserve better.

Katy Aronoff, BC ’04
Oct. 15, 2007
The author was the Editorial Page Editor on the 126th Managing Board.

Comments on Free Speech and Bollinger Taken Out of Context and Misleading

To the Editor:
Your account of the academic freedom panel (“Professors Debate Academic Freedom, Free Speech”, Oct. 16) gave a misleading impression of my remarks by quoting them out of context. My quip that Presidents Bollinger and Ahmadinejad were “two peas in a pod” referred only to the famous event a couple of weeks ago where neither seemed interested in actual intellectual dialogue. I have been quite critical of President Bollinger’s remarks then, but would never equate him more generally with the president of Iran.
My statement that academic freedom does not apply to students was a comment on the classic statement of the meaning of academic freedom issued by the American Association of University Professors in 1940. There, the idea of academic freedom was associated not with students, but with the right of professors to research and teach freely, and with faculty governance of the university. Of course, I believe that students should enjoy freedom of speech and inquiry, whether or not this falls within the technical definition of academic freedom.

Eric Foner
Oct. 17, 2007
The author is the Dewitt Clinton Professor of History