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UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA

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THE FREEDOM OF THE UNIVERSITY

Along with culture and democracy must go freedom. Without
freedom there can he neither true culture nor real democracy. Without
freedom there can be no university. Freedom in a university runs a
various course and has a wide meaning. It means the freedom of
students with their growing sense of responsibility and student citizen-
ship to govern themselves in campus affairs, and the right of lawful
assembly and free discussions by any students of any issues and views
whatever. This campus freedom carries with it a high moral respon-
sibility. For the faculty, freedom means the right of the faculty to
control the curriculum, scholastic standards, and especially matters
pertaining to intellectual excellence; to teach and speak freely, not as
propagandists, but as scholars and seekers for the truth with a clear
sense of responsibility for the truth and a deep sense of the teacher's
part in the development of the whole youthful personality; to organize
their own independent association for discussion and statement of
views, and as a basic part of the university's life to help shape
university policies by votes, representation, advice, and, may we hope,
a larger sharing in the life of the people of the state. For the adminis-
trative head, freedom means to take full responsibility in his own
sphere and make decisions in the long-run view of all the circum-
stances, to express views, without illusion as to their influence but
with some sense of fairness, humility, and tolerance, on those issues
that concern the whole people, asking no quarter and fearing no
special interest. Freedom of the trustees means the freedom to repre-
sent the public interests independent of any party, faction, or interests;
to receive endowments for this meagerly endowed University from any
honest sources without fear or favor or strings attached beyond an
honorable responsibility, and the freedom to make the institution,
within the limits of their responsibility to the people and its own high
nature, an autonomous institution in its administration, faculty,
standards, admissions, excellence, and the budget which is basic to
them all.

Freedom of the university means the freedom to study not only
the biological implications of the physical structure of a fish but also
the human implications of the economic structure of society. It means
freedom from the prejudices of section, race, or creed; it means a
free compassion of her sons for all people in need of justice and