Fire the Crook, Not the Scholar

LEONARD JEFFRIES should indeed be fired. Not because of the moronic things he says, but because, in threatening the life of a student, he has committed a felony.

Academic freedom is academic freedom. It is the unmitigated right of tenured academics to say and publish whatever they want--including what others may regard as worthless or virulent. And universities--because of their special relationship with the realm of knowledge--must be particularly wary of excluding ideas of any kind.

The staff editorial states that, because CUNY happens to be publicly funded, it need not adhere to the absolute standard of academic freedom. Unlike other forms of public schools in which the government can exert influence on what is taught, CUNY is in fact a college, just like Harvard. As such, it should commit to the same principles of academic freedom that private institutions hold so dear.

We agree with the staff position that Leonard Jeffries is an obnoxious, hateful character. But in the interest of protecting the greater ideal of academic freedom, his ideas must not be institutionally silenced. As a scholar--of whatever quality--Jeffries should be protected; as a common criminal, Jeffries should be incarcerated.

CUNY should punish illegal conduct, not moronic teaching.