Bates College Representative Assembly Unanimously Passes Academic Bill of Rights

Magic City Morning Star ^ | May 25, 2005 | IPR

[nywalton]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bates College Representative Assembly Unanimously Passes Academic Bill of Rights

LEWISTON, ME - The Bates College Representative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the principles of the Academic Bill of Rights during their final meeting of the 2004-2005 academic year on Monday evening. The resolution’s chief sponsor was Nathaniel Walton, a member of the Assembly and President of the Bates College Republicans. Bates now joins only a handful of other private colleges and universities whose student governments have endorsed the Academic Bill of Rights.

The resolution, labeled RA 05-36, encourages an academic environment for both students and faculty members that allows freedom of political viewpoint, expression and instruction. It encourages the Bates administration/faculty to endeavor to ensure a diversity of political and philosophical viewpoints in faculty members and instructors and that the institution not discriminate in their hiring policies against applicants for a faculty position or instructorship for reasons of political or philosophical viewpoints.

Nathaniel Walton, the chief sponsor of the legislation, offered the following statement upon the passage of RA 05-36: “I am proud to say that the Bates College Student Government has made a strong unanimous statement tonight in support of academic freedom. We have sent a clear message that the ideological imbalance that is unfortunately such a large part of many students’ academic experience on this campus is not a value endorsed by student leaders at Bates. I encourage student leaders at other private colleges and universities to follow the Bates example in passing a resolution endorsing the Academic Bill of Rights.”

Christopher Laconi, Chair of the Representative Assembly, was pleased to see the unanimous passage of the resolution: “I’m extremely impressed with the Representative Assembly’s willingness to engage this issue in healthy and constructive debate, and to take a firm and public stance on as important and timely of an issue as this. Bates is home to a very diverse range of deeply-held political beliefs, but Monday’s unanimous vote sent a powerful message that when it comes to intellectual freedom and balance, we aren’t afraid to speak out.”

President Walton is available for interviews/further comments about the Academic Bill of Rights. He can be reached by cellular telephone at (781) 248-0808 or by Email at nwalton@bates.edu.

The Academic Bill of Rights is inspired by the efforts of Students for Academic Freedom. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org.

For more information about the Maine College Republicans, please visit their website at http://mainecr.org.

[T Lady]

Great news! David Horowitz must be proud.

-Regards, T.

[Sonny M]

Its kind of sad that this is even necessary.

[Phyto Chems]

Without a "Academic Bill of Rights” there is no way to ensure a diversity of political and philosophical viewpoints. So all campuses that have SO-Called "diversity plans" that DON'T have a "Academic Bill of Rights” they are a JOKE. Not worth of your children's time and YOUR hard earned money. They will be come brain washed RATS.

[Endeavor]

I'm shocked their are any Republicans at Bates College after having visited there recently. God bless them.

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP