Chicago Sun-Times
To the editor:

The news that a Saint Xavier University professor may be disciplined for expressing anti-military views (news, Nov. 9) poses a serious threat to academic freedom. One may certainly disagree with history professor Peter Kirstein's belief that the Air Force is cowardly and engaged in "baby-killing tactics," and Kirstein has apologized for the tone of his email. But sometimes moral arguments are impolite. According to President Richard Yanikoski, no one at Saint Xavier is allowed to make "demeaning, degrading statements as a professor in or outside the classroom." Yanikoski is free to denounce Kirstein, but not to punish him. Some people mistakenly believe that religious institutions must be narrow-minded and reject academic freedom to have a religious identity. Saint Xavier rejects this view, and according to its mission statement, "honors commonly accepted standards of academic freedom." If Yanikoski seeks to punish Kirstein for "demeaning" the military, he will be violating those standards of academic freedom.

John K. Wilson
Founder, www.collegefreedom.org