Academic Freedom has come under serious attack in public universities, because of the increasing corporatization and militarization of universities and the effects of post 911 legislation and actions by the Bush Administration. Futhermore, the federal and state governments by cutting back on funding for research at public universities is underfunding many academic departments, especially in the liberal arts.

Ignacio Chapela Tenure Case:

Professor Ignacio Chapela was recently denied tenure and some of his colleagues are now questioning the integrity of the decision making process. Ignacio Chapela is an outspoken critic of the genetically modified crops and of the university's links with the biotech industry. Together with David Quist, he has proven that Mexican maize had been contaminated by transgenic (GMO) DNA. For more information and to get involved around this issue go to: http://www.tenurejustice.org

- Novartis Gone but not forgotten February-2004 Issue (California Monthly)

- Berkeley Denies Tenure to Ecologist Who Criticized University's Ties to the Biotechnology Industry The Chronicle January 9, 2004

- The Pulse of Scientific Freedom in the Age of the Biotech Industry

- Agricultural Biotechnology Science Compromised by Kenneth Worthy, et. al. 2002

- Responses to Metz, Fütterer and Kaplinsky’s Correspondences in Nature, 27 June 2002 by Kenneth Worthy 27 June 2002

Academic Freedom post 911:

Past Conference on Academic Freedom After September 11th
February 27, 2004 8:00AM- 4:30PM, Ida & Robert Sproul Rooms, International House

In the aftermath of 9/11, the Bush administration has pushed through legislation, including the Patriot Act, that seriously threaten fundamental civil liberties. The impact on institutions of higher learning range from the creation of blacklists of "Un-American" professors to the imminent passage of H.R. 3077, which seeks to create an Advisory Board of political appointees to monitor the activities of federally-funded Title VI National Resource Centers (including Berkeley's CMES). Some of the questions to be raised in this conference are: How has the academy as a whole, and Middle Eastern Studies in particular, been affected by the transformations of post-9/11 America? In what ways are these changes related to the larger processes that have shaped the academy over the past generation? How have students and faculty, especially those with academic or cultural ties to the Middle Eastern and Muslim states targeted by the "War on Terror", responded to threats to their academic freedom?

Participants:
Professor Robert Post, Yale University; Professor Beshara Doumani, UCB;Professor Kerwin Klein, UCB; Professor David Hollinger, UCB; Professor Kathy Frydl, UCB; Professor Philippa Strum, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; Professor Joel Beinin, Stanford University; Professor Laura Nader, UCB; Professor Amy Newhall, University of Arizona and the Middle East Studies Association; Professor George Bisharat, U.C. Hastings College of the Law; Mr. Michael Hindi, New School for Social Research; Mr. Snehal Shingavi, UCB

- Faculty Asks Chancellor To Resist Patriot Act Daily Californian, May 7, 2004

- Thought Control for Middle East Studies CommonDreams.org, March 31, 2004

- Campus Watch Raises Specter of McCarthyism North Gate News Online September 18, 2002

- Survey of UC Berkeley Middle Eastern Studies by Campus Watch

News Items:

- Protest Targets Law Professor’s Prisoner Memo June 28, 2004 (Daily Californian)

- Youth Think Tank Meets to Energize Muslim Electorate June 21, 2004 (Daily Californian)

- Letter to the Editor: Professor’s Memo Challenges Nation’s Values June 21, 2004 (Daily Californian)

- Professor Explains Legal Logic of Decision June 14, 2004 (Daily Californian)

- The Berkeley Intifada? (June 10, 2004) Tech Central Station

- Ronald Reagan launched political career using the Berkeley campus as a target (June 8, 2004) UC Berkeley Press Release

- Reagan Dies at Age 93 June 7, 2004 (Daily Californian)

- RELATIONSHIP with UC full of conflict (June 7, 2004) UCLA Daily Bruin

- UC Berkeley bore the brunt of Gov. Reagan's bark and bite (June 6, 2004) Contra Costa Times

- Berkeley Intifada (May 27, 2004) Front Page Mag

- UC Lecturer’s ‘Intifada’ Comment Brings Death Threats May 25, 2004 (Berkeley Daily Planet)

- U.S. Nearing Deal on Way to Track Foreign Visitors May 24, 2004 (New York Times)

- Editorial: Request for Law Professor’s Resignation Inappropriate May 24, 2004 (Daily Californian)

- Professor Denounced for POW Memo for Bush May 23, 2004 (CommonDreams.org)

- Berkeley law students denounce professor for POW memo May 22, 2004 (SF Chronicle)

- Justice Memos Explained How to Skip Prisoner Rights (several authored or co-authored by John C. Yoo, a University of California law professor) May 21, 2004 (NY Times)

- Over 100 Professors and UC Berkeley Graduate Assembly Criticize Chancellor on Tenure Case May 11, 2004 (Tenure Justice-Press Release)

- Graduate Assembly, Professors Question Legitimacy of Tenure Process May 13, 2004 (Daily Californian)

- 114 call for probe into denial of tenure May 12, 2004 (SF Chronicle)

- Critical thought must be cultivated in higher learning (May 10, 2004) U-Wire

- Opinion: New Rules May Stifle Political Activism (May 4, 2004) Daily Californian

- Big Brother to Watch Over Island (May 4, 2004) Wired

- Ethnic Studies Pioneer to Retire (April 24, 2004) Daily Californian

- Cal in a battle over a tract (April 10, 2004) SF Chronicle

- Be careful what you say on campus (April 2, 2004) Seattle P.I.

- A Balancing Act? Openess and Security on Campus (April 1, 2004) Syllabus

- UC Joins Public Library of Science (April 1, 2004) UC Office of the President

- A Major University Plans to Destroy a Unique Organic Farm (March 29, 2004) Earth Island Institute

- In Letter to UC Berkeley Chancellor, ACLU Opposes Suppression of Pro-Palestinian Student Protest (May 7, 2002) ACLU

- Scientific Journal Says It Should Not Have Published Paper on Genetically Modified Corn (February 26, 2002) The Chronicle