The American Association of University Professors gives an award called the Alexander Meiklejohn Award to a person or group who has done something outstanding in defense of academic freedom. Back in June, the AAUP gave the award to Molly Broad for “her key role in resisting demands to cancel the assignment of a book, Approaching the Qur’an.” The announcement is here, in case you’re in need of a blather fix.
Message to AAUP: This wasn’t exactly like defending the Alamo. She did what almost any administrator would do, namely to dig in the heels (no pun there) in the face of criticism of a poor decision. Is the defense of a required summer reading assignment the best the AAUP could come up with? Academic freedom must be pretty darned secure.
