Philosophy & Rhetoric Apr 2022

Academic Freedom’s Rhetorical “Gray Zone”

Michael Bernard-Donals

Abstract

ABSTRACT The tension between freedom of speech and academic freedom results from the contradiction between democracy and expertise, resulting in a rhetorical “gray zone” that stymies faculty appeals to due process and constitutional protection. It’s not so much that certain “uncivil” words and utterances cannot be said in this gray zone; it’s that such words, when said, require one’s ejection from the (academic) demos. In an examination of the case of Steven Salaita, I’ll show how the tyranny of the demos, in the guise of “civility,” “community standards,” or “institutional values,” trumps academic freedom, and how the commonplace of democracy—understood as public opinion—can and does compel faculty silence.

Journal
Philosophy & Rhetoric
Published
2022-04-01
DOI
10.5325/philrhet.55.1.0090
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
rhetorical criticism
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References (9)

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    AAUP Policy Documents and Reports
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    “Statement on Extramural Utterances.” AAUP Policy Documents and Reports
  4. (2006)
    Academic Freedom after September 11
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    Democracy, Expertise, and Academic Freedom: A First Amendment Jurisprudence for the Moder…
Show all 9 →
  1. (2019)
    The Future of Academic Freedom
  2. (2016)
    Paper presented at the University of South Carolina Rhetorical Theory Conference
  3. (2015)
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  4. Wise, Phyllis. 2014. “The Principles on Which We Stand.”https://will.illinois.edu/nfs/08-22-2014_Wise_Email_O…
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