UKZN's commitment to academic freedom slated
10 November 2008, 09:01
The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXi) has lashed out at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, questioning its commitment to academic freedom after disciplinary action against two academics.
Executive director Jane Duncan said the institute was "distressed" by disciplinary proceedings against professors Nithaya Chetty and John van den Berg.
Chetty and Van den Berg, professors of physics and mathematics respectively, are facing action relating to their criticisms of vice-chancellor Malegapuru Makgoba in the media regarding his handling of a university senate debate on academic freedom.
Chetty and Van den Berg commented in several newspapers earlier this year about the way in which Makgoba allegedly blocked the senate's consideration of a faculty of science and agriculture document on the state of academic freedom in the university. They are accused of breaching a senate confidentiality clause.
Duncan said the action "flies in the face" of the recommendations of a report on institutional autonomy and academic freedom in South Africa.
"The authors argue that if academic freedom is to be realised, higher education institutions must 'protect the freedom of expression of academics...from undue sanction by their own institution'. This means affording academics the space to espouse unpopular views on general matters, or even in relation to the university administration, without threats of disciplinary action," she said.
Duncan said the action cast "an even deeper pall" over the university's commitment to academic freedom, "which has been in question for some time now. Incident after incident has taken place where individuals or entities critical of powerful individuals both within and outside the university have been targeted.
These include the controversial exclusion of sociologist Ashwin Desai, the disciplinary cases against sociologist Fazel Khan and sociology Prof Evan Mantzaris, the disastrous attempt by Prof Dasarath Chetty to sue Rhodes University sociology Prof Jimi Adesina for defamation, and the more recent controversies around the threatened closure of the Centre for Civil Society.
When taken together, these incidents paint a picture of the university management that is at war with its critics, and that demands deference to authority, whether located inside or outside the university," said Duncan.
Chetty, the UKZN pro-vice-chancellor, said it was incomprehensible that the institute did not accept that there were limits to freedom of expression in society and in a university.
He said it was generally accepted that an academic, as a citizen, had the right to speak or write free from institutional censorship or discipline.
However, he said, attention was called to the professor's special obligation to be accurate, to exercise appropriate restraint, to show respect for the opinion of others, and to make every effort to indicate that he was not an institutional spokesperson.
"Hate speech, incitement to violence, defamation and showing a complete disregard for university policies and procedures does not constitute academic freedom," he said.
Executive director Jane Duncan said the institute was "distressed" by disciplinary proceedings against professors Nithaya Chetty and John van den Berg.
Chetty and Van den Berg, professors of physics and mathematics respectively, are facing action relating to their criticisms of vice-chancellor Malegapuru Makgoba in the media regarding his handling of a university senate debate on academic freedom.
Chetty and Van den Berg commented in several newspapers earlier this year about the way in which Makgoba allegedly blocked the senate's consideration of a faculty of science and agriculture document on the state of academic freedom in the university. They are accused of breaching a senate confidentiality clause.
Duncan said the action "flies in the face" of the recommendations of a report on institutional autonomy and academic freedom in South Africa.
"The authors argue that if academic freedom is to be realised, higher education institutions must 'protect the freedom of expression of academics...from undue sanction by their own institution'. This means affording academics the space to espouse unpopular views on general matters, or even in relation to the university administration, without threats of disciplinary action," she said.
Duncan said the action cast "an even deeper pall" over the university's commitment to academic freedom, "which has been in question for some time now. Incident after incident has taken place where individuals or entities critical of powerful individuals both within and outside the university have been targeted.
These include the controversial exclusion of sociologist Ashwin Desai, the disciplinary cases against sociologist Fazel Khan and sociology Prof Evan Mantzaris, the disastrous attempt by Prof Dasarath Chetty to sue Rhodes University sociology Prof Jimi Adesina for defamation, and the more recent controversies around the threatened closure of the Centre for Civil Society.
When taken together, these incidents paint a picture of the university management that is at war with its critics, and that demands deference to authority, whether located inside or outside the university," said Duncan.
Chetty, the UKZN pro-vice-chancellor, said it was incomprehensible that the institute did not accept that there were limits to freedom of expression in society and in a university.
He said it was generally accepted that an academic, as a citizen, had the right to speak or write free from institutional censorship or discipline.
However, he said, attention was called to the professor's special obligation to be accurate, to exercise appropriate restraint, to show respect for the opinion of others, and to make every effort to indicate that he was not an institutional spokesperson.
"Hate speech, incitement to violence, defamation and showing a complete disregard for university policies and procedures does not constitute academic freedom," he said.
- This article was originally published on page 4 of The Mercury on November 10, 2008
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