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From: orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER)
Newsgroups: soc.college
Subject: Re: Re: Accuracy In Academia (AIA): the "Fuss"
Message-ID: <1272@whuxl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 14-Oct-86 14:03:13 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuxl.1272
Posted: Tue Oct 14 14:03:13 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 16-Oct-86 19:47:17 EDT
References: <530@meccts.UUCP> <3331@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU> <676@looking.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Whippany
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> I don't understand.  Will somebody please explain what this group does?
> 
> What special powers do they have?  All I have been able to piece together
> from the net is that they denounce professors whose leanings they don't like
> and try to catch them out making errors.
> 
> Isn't the right to denounce people whose political views you don't like one
> of the most fundamental parts of a free society?  I am not sure what the
> fuss is.
> -- 
> Brad Templeton, Looking Glass Software Ltd. - Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473

The fuss is that those with unorthodox views have a long history of
being persecuted, harassed, and ultimately fired for their beliefs
in this country.
During McCarthyism thousands of people were victimized, not merely for
being Communists, but even for having a friend who had a friend who was
Communist.  Or having ever read a leftwing newspaper or magazine.

Those days are not gone yet, I am afraid.
Every year one can hear stories of Marxist professors being fired for
their views.  Just recently here in New Jersey, a high school teacher
was fired for agreeing to sponsor a "Young Leftists" Club which met
after school.  Students protested that the teacher was one of the best
teachers they ever had.  Over 500 students signed a petition stating
that this teacher was one of the best teachers they ever had and urging
the school board not to fire him.  At this point to no avail.

So if you want to know why people are concerned about Accuracy in Academia
this is precisely why: because these people have no concern with legitimate
debate but are primarily concerned with harrassment which could ultimately
end in many good teachers being fired.

                   tim sevener  whuxn!orb