ABSTRACT
One of the most valued rights of university faculty members is academic freedom. Unfortunately, it is also the most misunderstood. Academic freedom is the freedom of a teacher to state the truth about matters related to her or his discipline as he or she sees it, without fear of losing her or his position or otherwise being punished for the views expressed. It also includes the right of a teacher to speak out when he or she sees injustice in society, to support whatever political candidate or position he or she chooses, and to challenge the views of established authority. In short, this is the academic version of the right held by everyone in U. S. society-the freedom of speech.
