Basu, Sitze Reflect on Implications of Academic Freedom in the Classroom

At a webinar on Monday, titled “Academic Freedom: Insights from Amherst,” Domenic J. Paino 1955 Professor of Political Science and Sexuality, Women’s, and Gender Studies Amrita Basu and John E. Kirkpatrick 1951 Professor in Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought Adam Sitze addressed the responsibilities of academic freedom and its significance at Amherst. 

As moderator, President Michael Elliott began the conversation by asking the professors how they became interested in studying academic freedom. Elliott shared how Basu has “contributed to scholarly debates and public forums about academic freedom, particularly as it relates to political pressure on research and teaching in South Asia,” while Sitze has been “published widely on issues related to academic freedom.”

Basu described it as a new topic that has gained prominence following recent events, such as President Donald Trump’s executive orders to dismantle funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and defend against gender ideology. Basu, who conducts research in India on topics such as ethnic majoritarianism, religious nationalism, and minority rights, expressed that doing so has become “increasingly difficult.” She also referenced other scholars who have been targeted for their academic work, including two Amherst alumni. 

Sitze defined academic freedom as “a freedom that correlates to a responsibility to speak the truth as the body of knowledge that you have studied, incorporated, [and] inherited,” even if this truth is considered controversial or sparks backlash. He further emphasized that academic freedom has “quality control,” including the peer-review process, and protection for studying topics of interest without interference. 

Basu continued to discuss the advantages that institutions like Amherst have in defending academic freedom, such as an established system of faculty governance and opportunities for individual student-faculty connections. “It is very difficult for institutions to take a strong stance defending academic freedom if they haven’t had prior structures and institutions in place that they can then build on,” she said.

Sitze also highlighted that the college develops “strong bonds of trust” among students. In an era when students may be cautious about the potential online footprint of their academic work, he said, the classroom can provide a “semi-public space” where students can be vulnerable with their thoughts and conclusions.

Elliott then asked professors to share their thoughts on the criticism expressed in questions submitted prior to the webinar, where a common remark was that the college’s faculty lacked intellectual diversity. Basu explained that “what we mean by left, right, and liberal” has changed dramatically, and she believes that “many liberals, leftists, and conservatives [today] would differentiate their positions from the broad brushstrokes describing what these positions look like in the world.”

Sitze further emphasized that students should consider the intricacies and tensions of political beliefs and educational teaching, rather than searching for the actions of an individual that feed into these “pregiven narratives.” 

Basu suggested that there should be further conversations between students and professors to emphasize the importance of student questions and reassure students that there is an “openness to the possibilities” of holding debates or dialogues in the classroom that may be viewed as controversial or against social norms.

Both professors warned against bringing “moral certainty” into the classroom. Sitze emphasized that all classroom dialogue should adhere to “noncontradictory reasoning” and avoid attacking individuals for their personal views, calling for “intellectual humility and willingness to listen.” 

Sitze added that academic freedom has historical roots in America, pointing to universities, churches, and courts as “countermajority institutions that are capable of articulating principles like faith, justice, and truth.” Taking a global perspective, Basu highlighted the“correlation between the erosion of democracy and the decline in academic freedom,” a trend visible in other countries. She related this to her research in the rise of populism and ethnic-majoritarian nationalism, which frames scholars and universities as elitist and promotes narratives of “majority victimization.”  

The talk concluded with an introduction to a collection of meetings on the future of academic freedom that will convene leaders of organizations such as the American Enterprise Institute, as well as scholars and other figures, to develop an academic freedom index. Sitze explained that this future index “will be an accessible online ranking system that will allow members of the public to quickly and easily understand the different degrees of specific institutions’ commitments to the norms of academic freedom."