Mark B. Cohen - Notable House Speeches, Academic Freedom

Notable House Speeches, Academic Freedom

"... Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult to know what academic orthodoxy is. Orthodoxy and independence are really in the mind of the beholder. If one believes that the United States was right in fighting the Revolutionary War over 200 years ago, to a British scholar that is ideological orthodoxy.... Whomever you quote, Mr. Speaker, there is no way to quote all people, and the idea that every course has to be a reflection of diverse perspectives on every issue kind of limits the amount of material you can cover in any course.... There is not and there will never be any universal agreement as to what is relevant in any given course. Every course on a college campus is somewhat different based on who is teaching it. Let us face reality; let's protect the reputation of our state colleges and of ourselves, and let us vote "no" on this resolution."

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