As protests spread across the US as a rebellion against police brutality, white supremacy, systematic racism, and fundamentally unjust systems, the freedom of persons of letters, teachers, scholars, students, staff, and other higher education professionals, is all the more essential in order to build toward systemic change in the United States.
In order to address this essential need, on today’s episode we speak with Henry Reichman, Chair of the American Association of University Professor’s Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure. He is one of today’s leading voices defending a broad vision of tenure as the due process rights and job security necessary for higher education to thrive. He has recently published a new book on the subject, The Future of Academic Freedom.
We explore with him the historical meaning of tenure, its relevance today, the work of the AAUP to defend academic freedom, and the future organizing needed for dignified work in higher education.