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Show opinion/ PAGE A4 MONDAY'JULY 4*2005 letter/ Academic freedom vs. community values There has been a great deal of controversy and contention in Utah Valley concerning the "moral direction1' that UVSC is headed in. Many members of this community feel as Norm Nielson does when he said. "This College was conceived by this community, it was and is nurtured by this community, and it was sustained by this community (therefore) it exists to serve this community..." I strongly disagree. Just as a religion is not governed by the community where a church has been built, neither should a college be governed by the community where the campus has been established. It goes without saying that each college campus takes on a personality of its own because of the community which surrounds and supports it. Autonomy should always be encouraged as Ion" as that autonomy does not infringe upon and tear at the threads which hold all institutions of higher learning together. The primary purpose of an academic institution is to provide a safe environment where students and teachers can gain knowledge and wisdom through learning and to provide a safe space where that academic freedom can be expressed. It is not to further the beliefs and values perpetrated by the community that surrounds it thus creating controversy with other institution of higher learning whose communities have differing values. UVSC is only one small part of a great whole made up of college campuses and universities world wide. An academic institution must be in alignment with all other academic institutions in order to be considered as such. The common laws that bind these institutions together must always be held in higher regard than personal or community biases. Norm Nielson also said, Chrissy Ellsworth/NetXNews "John Donne's words ring true; 'No man is an island, entire unto himself.' "And (Nielson added) neither is a college." On that point I strongly agree. Nielson's ohn Ditzler's article words remind me of a greeting ("Deviation from the card I read. It said, "I bet the Norm," College Times, sparrow looks at the parrot June 20) is a helpful public and thinks, yes, you can talk, service. It should cause all of but listen to yourself!" Mr. us to relect on the words of Nielson, in order for UVSC Adlai E. Stevenson, a twonot to be an island entire time Democrat presidential unto itself then it must be candidate, who said; " . . . accountable to the Academic it is not easy to banish the community and not to the notion that there can be uniUtah Valley community. versal brotherhood just as Academic freedom is the soon as everybody gives up common thread that binds his faith and accept ours. ... all academic institutions of the richness of human diverhigher learning together and sity cannot be abolished any that common thread must more than Mars or Jupiter. never be torn. Difference is the nature of life, it is part of our moral Laurie Jemison Universe ... I reject the idea Orem, Utah of conformity, compulsory or Philosophy complacent, the faith that is swallowed like pills, whole JPfe - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ^ f^ £ * E-Mail letters to uvscopinions@hotmail.com * The NetXNews room is located on campus in SC220. * All letters become property of NetXNews and may be edited for content, specifically clarity, length or other concerns at the discretion of the Opinions Editor. * Letters between 50-250 words arc encouraged and those letters marked by their succinctness are more likely to be published. * Letters must be accompanied by full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes (contact information will not be published). Occupation, title or major is optional. Hello I'd like to make a wake-up call ....oh, how about sometime early in 1958 A wake-up call for the community J and at once, with no questions asked" (interview with Edward R. Murrow). Mr. Stevenson's words dated through they are - comprise a powerful refutation of the widespread supposition extant today that academic freedom must be, of necessity, relentlessly liberal in orientation. It is significant that the editors of The Daily Herald headlined my June 6 article, "Find a measured, balanced course at UVSC" (emphasis added). That is precisely what I advocated then, and it what I advocate now. I struggle to understand why anyone would take issue with that position-unless, of course, they seek the imposition of the compulsory lib- eralism that is being "swallowed like pills" on America's campuses. (For an insightful, detailed account, read 'Academic Freedom in the Classroom: When 'Freedom' Becomes 'License,'" by Luann Wright, http://www.leaderu. com/university/acadlicense. html.) Mr. Ditzler asserts that I seek to "stop others from expressing their point of view ..." He errs. I defend-indeed, I advocate-the airing of controversial issues. I do so, however, with a critical proviso: conservative and traditional views must receive the same amount of attention as liberal and progressive views. That was not the case during the 2004-05 school year, as Mr. Ditzler's instructive, detailed account attests-and as community outrage affirms. It is a "given" that students should have a voice in matters affecting their higher education, as should professors, administrators, and staff. No clear-thinking person disputes that. But the community should have a voice as well; unfortunately, that voice is either not being heard or not being heeded. That needs to change, and that is why I am raising my voice. I invite those who share my views to raise their voices as well. It's ^A UVSC NORTH Classes begin Wed., August M Day and Evening Classes 34 Credit Classes Offt>red Location: Lehi Junior High School A our college: We built it and nurtured it decades before Mr. Ditzler and his classmates, and certain activist professors arrived on the scene. If UVSC is to prosper in the years ahead, the wholehearted support of the community is imperative. UVSC will not earn that support if it continues on its present course. Parents of those students who are unable to gain admission to BYU will cease to see UVSC as a viable alternative. With Adlai Stevenson, they will reject the fiction that we must give up our values for someone else's. At the end of his article, Ditzler supposes that he has "lectured" me on the merits of academic freedom. What he has done, in fact, is to lay bare his vulnerability to the entreaties of professors who use academic freedom as license to advance their own liberal agendas. Hence, rather than writing a balanced, fairminded piece about a matter of pressing importance, we are given "Deviation from the Norm." It is in that context - as a wake up acll for the community - that Ditzler has performed a helpful public service. I thank him. Norman Nielsen UVSC SOUTH Classes begin Wed., August 24 Evening Classes 29 Credit Classes Offered Location: Spanish Fork High School W 9r9H§(/ (/ \ b fee SCHOOL OF EDUCATION 14454 ECFS1500 K61 Human Dev Life Span 3 R 6.00 pm-8:30 pm NV 105 Floyd Armstrong TR M 6:00 pm-8:30 pm N61 Intermed Writing: HU/SS 3 3 3 T 6:00 pm-8:30 pm HIST 1700 N61 American Civilizations •3 6.00 pm -8:30 pm 13915 HUM 1010 N61 Humanities Through the Arts 13932 PHIL 2050 N61 Ethics & Values W 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 13937 POLS 1000 N61 American Heritage PSY 1100 N61 Human Dev Life Span R R 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 14455 3 3 3 3 W R ART 1020 N61 8asic Drawing 13858 ENGL 1010 N61 Introduction lo Writing 13864 ENGL 2010 13867 6:30 pm-8:10om 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 6:00 pm-8:30 pm NV NV NV NV NV NV NV NV 110 108 108 108 106 106 108 106 Jeff Bushman BIOL1010 N61 General Biology 13940 CHEM1110 N61 Elementary Chemistry 13941 GE01010 N61 14458 HLTH1100 N61 Personal HeallWWellness 13942 MATH 1050 N61 College Algebra 13926 MATH 1050 N62 College Algebra 13S34 PHYS 1040 N61 Elementary Astronomy Intro to Geology 3 4 3 2 4 4 3 W MW T W MW TR 6:00 pm- 8:30 pm W 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 6:00 pm-7:40 pm 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 6:00 pm- 7:40 pm 6:00 pm-7:40 pm 6:00 pm-7:40 pm NV NV NV NV NV NV NV 112 112 112 110 111 111 107 Staff 13923 MAT 0950 MAT IOIO N61 FoundationsforAlgebra N61 Intermediate Algebra • ART 1010 NV1 Introduction to Visual Arts 14508 AVSC1010 14496 BIOL1010 NV1 Survey of Aviation Science NV1 Genera] Biology 14492 ECFS1500 14505 NV1 Human Oev / Life Span ENGL 1010 NV1 Introduction (o Writing 14498 ENGL 2200 14489 HIST 1700 NV1 Intro lo Literature NV1 American Civilization 14501 HLTH 1100 NV1 Personal Heahh/Weiiness 14506 HUM 1010 NV1 Humanities through the Arts 14507 MAT 1010 NV1 Intermediate Akjebra 13362 MGMT202G NV6 Macroeconomics 14500 PHYS 1040 NV1 Elementary Astronomy 14468 PSY 1010 14491 PSY 1100 NV1 General Psychology NV1 Human Oev/Life Span 13366 PSY 3250 NV6 Applied Parenting 13368 SOC3250 NV6 Applied Parenting KB 1 Utah Valley KgP Stale College Opinions Desk (801) 863-7010 S51 Human Dev Life Span 3 T 6:00 pm- 8:30 pm 20 Russell Betis 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 M MW S T T M R W T W M R T 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 28 A8 A8 13 15 15 B4 13 Jeff Bushman 3 4 3 2 4 4 2 2 3 R 6:00 pm -8:30 pm MW 6:00 pm-7:40 pm M 6:00 pm-8:30 pm W 6:00 pm-7:40 pm TR ^ 6:00 pm-7:40 pm TR 7:50pm-9:30pm W 6:00 pm -7:40 pm W W 6:30 pm-8:10 pm 5 4 4 TR MW TR 6:00 pm-8:05 pm 3 3 3 M 6:00 pm-8:30 pm R 6:00 pm- 8:30 pm R 6:00 pm-8:30 pm SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES, ARTS & SOCIAL SCIENCES 13944 NoreenAstin 13945 ART 1050 Staff 13946 ART 1550 Gary Griffin 13949 COMM1020 Floyd Armstrong 13950 ENGL 1010 13951 ENGL 2010 ART 1010 13958 HIST 1700 Staff 13961 HUM 1010 SJgne Gines 13969 MUSC1010 SigneGines 13976 PHIL 2050 Staff 14342 pas 1100 CsndaceWignaB 13983 PSY 1010 CandaceWpall 14462 PSY 1100 S61 S61 S01 S61 S61 S61 S61 S61 S61 S61 S61 S61 S61 Introduction to Visual Arts Photography Photography PubficSpeafcng Introduction to Writing Interrned Writing: HU/SS America/I Civilization Humanities Through the Arts InlroductiontoMusic Ethics S VaJues American National Government General Psychology Human Dev Life Span 5:30 pm-8:00 pm 9:00 am-1:30 pm 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 6:00 pm -8:30 pm 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 6:00 pm- 8:30 pm 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 6:00 pm-8:30 pm Lou CrandaS Lou CrandaB Diena Simmons Staff Staff Jim Griffith Staff Choir Madeline Johnson 15 B4 15 20 Linde Smith Nathan Melton Kevin Simons Russell Betts Curtis Craig SCHOOL OF SCIENCES HEALTH 5 4 MW TR 6:00 pm-8:05 pm 6:00 pm-7:40 pm NV 109 NV 109 Staff Staff INTERACTIVE VIDEO 14490 ECFS1500 KathyDye SCHOOL OF GENERAL ACADEMICS 13919 14461 Staff SCHOOL OF SCIENCES HEALTH 13856 Us SCHOOL OF EDUCATION SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES, ARTS & SOCIAL SCIENCES 13853 m 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 MWF TR MWF MWF TR MWF MWF TR TR TR M MWF MWF MWF R R 8:00 am-9:15 3m NV NV NV NV NV 1:00 pm- 1:50 pm NV 8:00 am-8:50 am NV NV NV NV NV NV NV NV NV NV 900 am-9:50 am 1:00 pm-1:50 pm 11:00 am-11:50 pm 10:00 am-10:50 am 7:00 am-7:50 am 9:30 am-10:45 am 11:00 am-12:40 pm 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 2:00 pm- 2:50 pm 7:00 am-7:50 am 10:00 am -10:50 am 6:00 pm -8:30 pm 6.0Opm-B:30pm 114 Steve Bule 114 Rich Crandal 114 James Price 114 David Yells 114 Steve Fullmer 114 Steve Fullmer 114 Ride Fish 114 Robert Walsh 114 Marden Pond 114 Ellen Backus 114 Lowell Glenn 114 Tom Lee 114 Cameron John 114 David Yells 114 David Chandler 114 David Chandler Evening School/Weekend College Woodbury Business Building, WBlOld 863-8449 - www.uvscedu/conted 14463 HLTH 1100 13958 MATH 1050 S61 S61 S61 S61 S61 13947 BIOL1010- 13948 CHEM1110 13958 GE01010 General Biology Elemenlary Chemistry Intro lo Geology Persona! Heaith/Wellness College Algebra 13969 MATH 1050 S62 College Algebra 13971 PES1097 S61 Fitness for l i e 13974 PES1097 S62 Fitness for l i e 13978 PHYS 1040 S61 Elemenlary Astronomy 6:00 pm-8:30 pm 20 20 21 B5 82 B2 C2 C2 21 Connie Erdmann Staff Clayton Gardinier Bob Walsh Wes Sheldon Wes Sheldon Everett Kelepoto AJan Albright Liberty Evanko SCHOOL OF GENERAL ACADEMICS 13962 MAT0950 13964 MAT0990 13966 MAT 1010 S61 S61 S61 Foundations for Algebra SV6 SV6 SV6 Macroeconomics Introductory Algebra Intermediate Algebra 6:00 pm- 7:40 pm 6:00 pm-7:40 pm 21 5 5 Staff A7 A7 A7 Lowell Glenn Staff Staff* INTERACTIVE VIDEC 13363 MGMT2020 13367 PSY 3250 13369 SOC3250 Applied Parenting Applied Parenting lUtahVailey 1 State College Visit us online at www.netxnews.net David Chandler David Chandler Evening School/Weekend College Woodbury Business Building, WBlOld 863*8449 • www.uvscedu/conted Send story ideas to vogeljo@uvsc.edu |