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Academic Freedom

Issue Overview

Academic Freedom

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Be there: Faculty, Students, Chancellor, Assembly Speaker & Senate Pro Tem to rally April 4 for needed CSU funding

“This is a critical moment for California’s public higher education system,” says CFA President Jennifer Eagan. “The state has the money it would take to restore much of the damage done to the CSU over the past decade, and everyone who knows how important that is needs to speak up now.”

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Building to April 4: CFA, students speak out for the CSU at the Capitol

In one of California’s best fiscal years ever, it’s time to fund the CSU. That is the message faculty and students are bringing to CSU campuses and the Capitol where the 2018-19 State Budget is being hammered out.

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April 4 #FreeTheCSU—New animation tells why, RSVP to get there

Hundreds of faculty and students around the state have RSVP’d to go to Sacramento on April 4. And a just-released animation explains why you should RSVP, too.

“This is definitely an ‘if not now, when?’ moment for the CSU,” says Kevin Wehr, CFA Secretary who is organizing for April 4 along with his CFA chapter, which is just a few miles from the State Capitol.

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In Other News

LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON HATE SPEECH: CFA made public comment yesterday (October 3) at a hearing of the California State Senate Judiciary Committee that took testimony on “Combatting Hate While Protecting the Constitution.” Testimony came from UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky and representatives of civil rights groups, the CSU administration, and law enforcement. View the hearing on the California Channel.

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Hate speech and the Constitution
Cal. Senate Judiciary Hearing

The following is full text of public comment by the California Faculty Association presented to the California State Senate Judiciary hearing on October 3, 2017.

The California Faculty Association is committed to protecting academic freedom, including the rights of faculty, students, and staff to engage in debate and public protest; protests, after all, are the oldest form of civic engagement. In fact, many of our CSU faculty, staff, and student activists engage in peaceful protests.

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In Other News

IMMIGRATION RESOURCES: We’ve updated the CFA website to include a new page, “Immigration & the CSU.” There, you’ll find information and resources for immigrants and those helping members of our undocumented communities. Download and print a “Know Your Rights” card, find links to FAQs and more: https://www.calfac.org/immigration-csu

DACA RENEWAL WORKSHOP (NORCAL): A collaboration of city, community, and local organizations in San Francisco are hosting a free DACA renewal workshop from 1-5 pm Saturday, Sept. 23 at Mission High School, 3750 18th St, San Francisco.

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CFA calls on California State University management to protect students and employees from racist hate groups, set policies and practices with moral clarity
Statement from the California Faculty Association

August 16, 2017

CFA stands in solidarity with the University of Virginia and the city of Charlottesville in their anger and sadness over what has been done to their campus and community in the name of white supremacy and racism. 

Three people lost their lives and many more were injured. The city and campus communities have been done real harm and a serious injustice, and we wish the families of those we lost, along with the communities, hope and healing moving forward.

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Cal State Fullerton lecturer reinstated, CFA urges administration to protect academic freedom

A Cal State Fullerton lecturer will be returning to campus this fall after CFA successfully fought his termination following accusations that he had assaulted students at a counter protest.

News Release

CSU Professor Who Was Wrongfully Disciplined by CSU Fullerton Gets Reinstated

Following Reinstatement, CSU Faculty Calls on University Presidents to Stand Up and Defend Academic Freedom in Today’s Divisive Political Climate

Long Beach, CA – After an arbitrator overturned CSU Fullerton’s decision to terminate Dr. Eric Canin following an alleged altercation on campus, the California Faculty Association today called on University Presidents nationwide to stand up for academic freedom in today’s heated and divisive political climate.

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Comments from Eric Canin, faculty at CSU Fullerton

 

Comments given at the CSU Trustees July 2017 meeting

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Take a stand for ‘truth, learning, and the university’

CFA President Jennifer Eagan’s comments to the CSU Trustees and CSU campus presidents about academic freedom in this troubling new era

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CFA in the News (Summer edition)
Coverage of call to protect academic freedom, reinstatement of Fullerton lecturer

First Look: Suspended California instructor to keep his job
Politico
The California Faculty Association will announce today that Eric Canin, an anthropology lecturer at California State University, Fullerton, who got into an altercation with a group of College Republicans during a campus demonstration in February, will keep his job, Morning Education has learned.

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CFA Statement on protecting career of Cal State Fullerton lecturer

July 18, 2017

The California Faculty Association, through aggressive representation, is proud to have successfully protected the career and livelihood of a 20-year lecturer at Cal State Fullerton.

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CFA Chapter Presidents speak out: Violations of academic freedom won’t be tolerated

In light of of 2016 ending with incidents of hate speech, hate crimes, and violations of academic freedom, CFA Chapter Presidents have taken a stand to uphold the free exchange of ideas throughout the CSU system.

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Letter to faculty regarding hate speech, hate crimes and violations of academic freedom
CFA Chapter Presidents take stand to uphold free exchange of ideas

December 14, 2016

Dear Colleagues, 

The California Faculty Association (CFA) is committed to protecting academic freedom, including the rights of faculty, students, and staff to engage in debate and public protest.

The California Faculty Association will support and defend all members of our campus communities from racist, sexist, nationalist, homophobic, transphobic, anti-Muslim, and anti-Semitic attacks. CFA condemns all hate speech and hate crimes on campus and in our surrounding communities.

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