Columbia University: Ideological Litmus Tests at Teachers College

On September 15, 2006, FIRE wrote to Columbia University to express concern about a policy at its Teachers College requiring students to demonstrate a “commitment to social justice” and listing “Respect for Diversity and Commitment to Social Justice” as a “disposition” expected from students and graduates of the college. After FIRE sent several letters to both Columbia and Teachers College arguing that evaluating students according to their commitment to an officially defined ideal is a violation of students’ rights, Teachers College President Susan Fuhrman told FIRE that the policy would be reevaluated.