Dorian Abbot’s ACTA "Hero" Acceptance Speech
Heterodox STEM | Dorian Abbot
University of Chicago geophysicist Dorian Abbot accepts the “Hero of Intellectual Freedom” honor from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) in a speech that calls upon alumni to defend academic freedom and academic excellence from the assault underway at universities, including flagrant race-based discrimination and intolerance of competing views.
“The purpose of a university is the discovery and transmission of knowledge, which requires the free and open exchange of ideas. However, complete academic freedom has ceased to exist at most universities, threatening their main mission. The solution is to adopt and enforce policies at universities that ensure: (1) free speech, (2) neutrality of the institution on social and political issues, and (3) merit-based hiring and promotion. The help of alumni and the public will be necessary to effect this solution…”
“Although faculty can and should form academic freedom lobby groups, many faculty are so focused on their research that they will not participate. Even worse, there seem to be entire departments full of faculty who are antagonistic to free expression…Administrators often have incentives that are not aligned with the university’s mission, and cannot be relied upon either. In contrast, alumni are already forming groups to withhold donations and pressure universities to defend academic freedom and academic excellence. This should be continued, encouraged, and supported...”
“Finally, all of us who care about universities need to speak openly, including to journalists…about the danger they are in so that word gets out to alumni and the public… Although this is uncomfortable for many academics, including me, it is absolutely necessary.”
