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Brooklyn College: Possible Investigation of Professor's Expression

In a direct attack on academic freedom and free speech, the Brooklyn College School of Education tried to silence one of its most prominent critics, history professor KC Johnson. After publicly criticizing perceived indoctrination and viewpoint discrimination by members of the Brooklyn College faculty, Johnson faced a possible investigation by a Brooklyn College "Integrity Committee" for his constitutionally protected speech. In a swift and crucial victory for freedom of speech and academic freedom, Brooklyn College affirmed that Johnson would not be subjected to an unconstitutional inquisition into his views. The college surrendered mere days after FIRE came to Johnson's public defense.

Case Materials

• "Education Programs May Have a ‘Disposition’ for Censorship," September 21, 2005: FIRE is fighting an emerging trend in campus censorship. This summer, Washington State University used “dispositions” theory to punish an education student for his political and religious expression, relenting only after FIRE became involved. And just last month, FIRE had to intervene when Brooklyn College professor K. C. Johnson was threatened with a secret investigation for questioning the use of the theory.
• "First Amendment and Academic Freedom Triumph at Brooklyn College," September 14, 2005: In a swift and crucial victory for freedom of speech and academic freedom, Brooklyn College has affirmed that prominent professor K. C. Johnson will not be subjected to an unconstitutional inquisition into his views.  The college surrendered mere days after FIRE came to Johnson’s public defense.
• "Brooklyn College Threatens Inquisition to Silence Dissenting Professor," September 8, 2005: In a direct attack on academic freedom and free speech, the Brooklyn College School of Education (SOE) is seeking to silence one of its most prominent critics, history professor K. C. Johnson.  After publicly criticizing perceived indoctrination and viewpoint discrimination by members of the Brooklyn College faculty, Johnson is facing a possible investigation by a Brooklyn College “Integrity Committee” for his constitutionally protected speech.
• "Letter from Brooklyn College President Christoph M. Kimmich to FIRE, September 7, 2005," September 7, 2005
• "FIRE Letter to Brooklyn College President Christoph M. Kimmich, August 18, 2005," August 18, 2005
• "Letter from Professor K. C. Johnson to Brooklyn College School of Education, June 29, 2005," June 29, 2005
• "Letter from Brooklyn College School of Education to Professor K. C. Johnson, June 20, 2005," June 20, 2005
• "‘Disposition’ Emerges as Issue at Brooklyn College," The New York Sun, May 31, 2005
• "Disposition for Bias," Inside Higher Ed, May 23, 2005

Blog Entries

• "David Thompson Speaks Out about KC Johnson and Social Justice Indoctrination," by Jordan Fischetti, October 20, 2010
• "New FIRE Video on KC Johnson's Fight for Academic Freedom ," by Adam Kissel, October 14, 2010: FIRE's Campus Freedom Network has released a new video today about Brooklyn College history professor KC Johnson's fight to protect his academic freedom. Johnson wrote a column publicly criticizing "dispositions theory," which education schools sometimes use as a political litmus test to ensure that students have the "correct" views on "social justice." In response, the Brooklyn College education department (31 professors) unanimously signed a letter demanding that he stop writing about dispositions theory and that he be investigated by an "Integrity Committee." With FIRE's help, Johnson fought back and vindicated his academic freedom, proving once again that universities cannot defend in public what they do in private.
• "The Trouble with ‘Dispositions’," by David French, September 21, 2005
• "Professor’s First Amendment Rights Upheld at Brooklyn College," by Samantha Harris, September 14, 2005
• "Criticism or Censorship?," by David French, September 8, 2005
• "Real World vs. Ideal World," by David French, June 10, 2005
• "Shortell Declines Chairmanship After All," by Minnie Quach, June 8, 2005
• "Department Chairs and Free Speech," by David French, June 7, 2005
• "‘Moral Retards’ and Academic Freedom," by David French, June 3, 2005
• "‘Dispositions’ at Brooklyn College," by David French, May 31, 2005

Media Coverage

• "Campus Alert: Think like us--or else,"
  New York Post, June 4, 2007
• "Speech on Campus After 9/11: Less Free than It Used to Be?,"
  by Jennifer Van Bergen, FindLaw Legal News and Commentary, May 25, 2006
• "Class(room) Warriors,"
  by John Leo, U.S. News & World Report, October 24, 2005
• "FIRE Protests Threatened 'Inquisition' of Brooklyn College's Dissenting Prof.,"
  by Jim Brown, Agape Press, September 20, 2005
• "College backs off on dissenting professor,"
  WorldNetDaily, September 15, 2005
• " Dissenting Professor Faces Possible 'Integrity Committee' Investigation,"
  by Jim Brown, Agage Press, September 13, 2005
• "Prof's protest of 'political litmus test' raises hackles,"
  by Linda Seebach, Scripps Howard News Service, September 10, 2005