In response to a recent report from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), "Defending Civilization: How Our Universities are Failing America and What Can Be Done About It," UUP president William Scheuerman has written a forceful letter to the editor of The Chronicle of Higher Education. In his letter, Scheuerman states he is appalled that ACTA is exploiting the horrific events of Sept. 11 to promote its own "very un-American agenda," by implying the college professors are opposed to fighting terrorism while the rest of the country is responding patriotically.

According to Scheuerman, ACTA is using McCarthy-like tactics to publicly intimidate dissenting faculty, students and administrators into silence. Scheuerman points out that disagreement with our political leaders is only dangerous when it stops--and that’s what ACTA wants.

ACTA, a Washington, D.C.-based group, states its mission as an "educational organization committed to academic freedom, excellence, and accountability on college and university campuses." In response to the Sept. 11 attack on America, ACTA issued its "Defending Civilization" report that calls on college and university trustees to make sure strong core curricula that inspire the legacy of freedom and democracy are offered at their institutions. Read the complete letter.

[posted 3/25/02]