Academic Freedom Defended for Upcoming Speaker
Duke official responds to Wall Street Journal online opinion article criticizing planned event
Friday, January 17, 2003
Statement Regarding Guest Speaker at African & African-American Studies Program
By David Jarmul
Associate Vice President, News and Communications
Duke University
Duke University has received inquiries in response to a January 16 commentary in the Wall Street Journal's online "Opinion Journal" regarding Laura Whitehorn, who is scheduled to participate on March 3 in a speaker series at Duke. As the article notes, Ms. Whitehorn was recently released from federal prison after serving more than 14 years for her role in planting a bomb in the U.S. Capitol building in 1983, in protest of the U.S. invasion of Grenada. She has been active in recent years on behalf of prisoners who are HIV-positive.
Ms. Whitehorn was invited to speak about HIV/AIDS in prisons. The invitation was extended by Becky Thompson, who is a visiting professor at Duke through the current spring semester, teaching a graduate course, "Teaching Race, Teaching Gender," in Duke's African & African-American Studies Program.
Duke does not exert control over or pressure its faculty and departments in their selection of campus speakers. One of our nation's greatest values, and one we at Duke celebrate, is the freedom for people to express their thoughts openly. Students, faculty and other members of the Duke community benefit from hearing and debating a wide variety of ideas. We have confidence in the ability of the members of our community to analyze and critique the arguments they hear, an activity that is central to democracy, and to universities in particular.
Duke hosts speakers with a wide array of views. During the week Ms. Whitehorn will appear, for instance, it will also hold campus events on topics ranging from spiritual responses to environmental problems to intellectual property in cyberspace. Some speakers may hold views that others consider too radical or tainted to be provided a forum. Nonetheless, Duke remains committed to the academic freedom that has contributed so much to the traditions and strength of our nation.
