332

OverviewVersionsHelp

Facsimile

Transcription

Status: Complete

311

was planning to send fifteen hundred delegates to a meeting on this campus in the spring of 1965. The Society arranges the programs and selects the speakers. Since scientific knowledge knows no boundaries, it is quite usual to secure speakers from all over the world, including some from behind the Iron Curtain. This Society does not expect us to violate the Visiting Speakers Law but at the same time it will not fetter its program because of it. What shall we do?

"In this context it is well to recall that the General Assembly of 1963 recognized that North Carolina was not abreast of many other states in the advancement of scientific knowledge. Consequently, an appropriation of $2,000,000 was made to the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology to assist in the development of programs to enable this state to move ahead in these vital areas. Obviously the key element in the advancement of scientific knowledge is to attract more scientists to the state. The climate for learning and teaching is fundamental to the success of this important venture. In effect this means the climate which prevails on the campuses of our colleges and universities, for it is here that most of our scientific talent is concentrated. Thus, we have a tragic inconsistency. One law encourages scientific development whereas another law discourages it. We would be negligent in our duty should we sit silently by and fail to point out the full implications of the Visiting Speakers Law. "

Statement of the Facuity Senate at North Carolina State and the presentation of Chancellor John T. Caldwell

Senate Resolution entitled "Statement of the Faculty Senate on Recent Legislation Restricting use of Facilities of the University System."

"The Faculty Senate expresses its profound concern over the implications of the legislative enactment of June 26, 2963, 'An Act to Regulate Visiting Speakers at State-Supported Colleges and Universities', which bans appearances of certain categories of persons on the campuses of state-supported educational institutions.

"This enactment represents an intrusion of a law-making body into a sphere of responsibility normally delegated by the legislature, through the Board of Trustees, to officials and faculties of institutions of higher learning.

"It constitutes a restriction on the free exchange of knowledge and opinion that is absolutely essential to the educational process.

"It establishes a dangerous precedent, since any assumption of responsibility assigned to the administration of the University may be extended to a greater degree of control over the internal affairs of the University.

"For these reasons, the Faculty Senate views this legislation with genuine alarm. We urge the Administration of the University, the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, the full Board of Trustees, and the Board of Higher Education to take appropriate steps toward bringing about the earliest possible reconsideration and repeal of this legislation."

Statement of Chancellor Caldwell

Effect of the "Speaker Ban" Statute at North Carolina State

"Passage of House Bill 1395 produced immediate reaction on the Raleigh campus.
In less than a week the Faculty Senate passed a strong resolution expressing 'concern' and 'alarm' over passage of the act.

"A university faculty is an element of extraordinary importance and value to a society.
Its feelings and reactions are a product of centuries during which universities have become centers of intellectual freedom and discourse. Our faculty, like any other first-rate university faculty, holds convictions about intellectual freedom, convictions which they do not wish to see violated. Furthermore, they have felt a great pride in being a part of a university which maintains freedom for the mind. They do not want to be embarrassed in the world of universities by having to submit to restrictions which detract from their pride.

Notes and Questions

Nobody has written a note for this page yet

Please sign in to write a note for this page