Document Type
Report
Publication Date
2023
Abstract
This guide is designed to assist the campus community in responding to situations in which faculty members are targeted by individuals or groups outside of the university based on the content of the faculty member’s scholarship, teaching, and/or service. It addresses potential concerns in such situations and informs the campus about resources available to assist individual faculty members, departments chairs, and other administrators. The foundation for this guide is the University of South Carolina’s unwavering support for academic freedom and freedom of expression. The faculty’s right to academic freedom in teaching and research and service is protected as essential to the university’s educational mission, even with regard to controversial issues or ideas that may provoke disagreement in the public. Likewise, as citizens, faculty members enjoy strong protection for freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is not only mandated by our Constitution and other laws but is also necessary for robust intellectual exchange on which the university’s teaching and research missions depend. Thus, the targeting of scholars for their ideas or views with persistent and pervasive harassment or threats of violence not only harms those individuals, but also strikes at the university’s academic core. Through this guide and other means, the university seeks to assist faculty to address intimidation or violence that the expression of unpopular ideas sometimes generates. This guide is content neutral meaning that is designed to offer support for faculty members across a wide spectrum of views presented in teaching and in areas of research. For example, it may be useful for faculty harassed for their conclusions related to social issues, as well as for faculty whose scientific methods are deemed controversial, such as the use of animals in research. This guide focuses on threats or harassment directed at faculty members from outside the university. For information about policies and procedures governing harassment committed by USC employees, students, and/or faculty, please see USC’s Employee Standards of Conduct, Student Code of Conduct (STAF 6.26), Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct (CR 1.00), Faculty Workplace Incivility (ACAF 1.80) and other USC policies.
Rights
© 2023, University of South Carolina