NYT 1961: A Victory for Free Speech
"The lesson to be learned is that a university, instead of seeking out legalisms to cover a retreat from principles, ought to stand firm on the courage of its convictions and ideas."
On December 18, 1961, The New York Times editorial board celebrated the City University of New York’s (CUNY) decision to lift the ban on Communist speakers on its campuses. Despite the CUNY Administrative Council’s decision to give autonomy back to individual college administrations, the editorial also called on those colleges within the system to commit to free speech principles as well, referring to Hunter College’s refusal to host a forum for National Review.
A Victory for Free Speech
The Administrative Council of the City University of New York has wisely withdrawn the ban against Communist speakers on its college campuses. The council was wrong when it imposed the ban in October. Although it tried to justify its action by reference to the opinions of unidentified attorneys, there never was any doubt that the edict was counter to the basic principle of free speech.
The Committee on the Bill of Rights of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York has now given the council the “considered opinion” that “a faculty or administration of the City University is legally entitled to permit known United States Communist party members or officers to speak on their campuses.”
The bar association has performed a vital service in getting the university administration out of an absurd position. Much credit also goes to others who have taken a strong stand in demanding a reversal of the ban. In addition to the Academic Freedom Committee of the American Civil Liberties Union, impressive numbers of faculty members at the colleges have spoken out fearlessly, both on the principles of freedom and the meaning of law and the Constitution.
The fact that the responsibility to approve or disapprove campus invitations has been returned to the individual colleges merely makes it more important than ever for the separate administrations to live up to the reputation of free institutions. The issue of Hunter College’s refusal to rent its hall to The National Review, a Right-Wing publication, still remains to be resolved. Although under different circumstances, this also involves the basic issue of free speech.
The lesson to be learned is that a university, instead of seeking out legalisms to cover a retreat from principles, ought to stand firm on the courage of its convictions and ideas.