[Academia] The Anti-Authoritarian Academic Code of Conduct

[Rose Eisenberg]

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The Anti-Authoritarian Academic Code of Conduct
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By Justin W. <http://dailynous.com/author/justindn/>. November 29, 2016 at
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People are wondering how authoritarian the United States government will
become under a Trump administration. There’s no way to know for sure.
Perhaps the answer is: no more than it already is. Or perhaps Trump, who
seems to be some combination of much less knowledgeable of and much less
respectful of the limits of executive power than any previous U.S.
president (even in this era of the “imperial presidency”), will attempt to
pursue his illiberal aims via a wide array of means, including issuing
directives to or putting pressure on the institutions and individuals of
academia.

Under conditions of uncertainty, how do we identify the line between
panicked overreaction and responsible preparation?

That’s a tough question, in part because preparation and precaution are
almost never without costs or tradeoffs.

At the very least, we could look for and assess minimally costly means of
preparation. One option along these lines is to try to mentally prepare
ourselves to refuse to cooperate with illiberal or immoral government
initiatives.

To that end, Rachel Barney, professor of philosophy and classics at the
University of Toronto, has drafted an Anti-authoritarian Academic Code of
Conduct—“to keep the bright lines visible” she says—which she wishes to
share with philosophers and others in academia. I post it below, with some
slight edits. Feel free to make suggestions for revisions in the comments,
keeping in mind the purpose and limits of such a document.

   1. I will not aid in the registering, rounding-up, or internment of
   students and colleagues on the basis of their religious beliefs.
   2. I will not aid in the marginalization, exclusion, or deportation of
   my undocumented students and colleagues.
   3. I will, as my capacities allow, discourage and defend against the
   bullying and harassment of  vulnerable students and colleagues targeted for
   important aspects of their identity (such as race, gender, religious
   beliefs,  sexual orientation, etc.).
   4. I will not aid government or law enforcement in activities which
   violate the U.S. Constitution or other U.S. law.
   5. I will not aid in government surveillance. I will not inform.
   6. As a teacher and researcher, I will not be bought or intimidated. I
   will present the state of research in my field accurately, whether or not
   it is what the government wants to hear. I will challenge others when they
   lie.
   7. I will not be shy about my commitment to academic values: truth,
   objectivity, free inquiry, and rational debate. I will challenge others
   when they engage in behavior contrary to these values.
   8. As an administrator, I will defend my students, faculty, and
   non-academic staff. I will not allow the expulsion, firing, disciplining,
   harassment, or marginalization of individuals targeted for being members
   of disfavoured groups or for expressing dangerous opinions. I will speak up
   for academic freedom. I will insist on the autonomy of my institution.
   9. I will stand with my colleagues at other institutions, and defend
   their rights and freedoms.
   10. I will be fair and unbiased in the classroom, in grading, and in all
   my dealings with all my students, including those who disagree with me
   politically.

If you agree with enough of this, please share it with others at your
school and in your social networks. Consider printing it out and hanging it
in your office or on your office door.

And keep these ten items in mind, so if the time comes, you are a little
more prepared than you otherwise might be.
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