Academic freedom is important for faculty.

Charles Delman thinks it is vital.

“If faculty don’t have academic freedom to pursue research and teach what they know best, then you won’t serve as an honest educational unit,” Delman said.

The mathematics professor and University Professionals of Illinois chapter president said it is essential not to poison teaching with political bias.

UPI and Faculty Senate are hosting a faculty forum on academic freedom at 7 tonight in the 7th Street Underground as part of President Bill Perry’s inauguration.

Robert Miller, general counsel attorney, said faculty and students must be able to openly express themselves in the classroom.

“The freedom to exchange ideas is necessary for an enlightened discourse,” Miller said.

He added that academic freedoms allow minority opinions or controversial viewpoints to be heard.

Faculty Senate Chair Lynne Curry said the senate decided to have a program on academic freedom because it wanted a topic that would pertain to both students and faculty.

Curry said the senate members are hoping to bring faculty and students together to start a discussion on this issue.

She added that the forum could lead to other speakers on the topic in the future.

Students also have the right to freely express themselves in class.

Eastern’s policy states that course grades will not be affected by disagreements between instructors and students when only based off matters of opinion.

Faculty members are entitled to freedom in their classroom as long as the topic pertains to their subject. Faculty members are also entitled to full freedom of research and publication of the results under Eastern’s policy.

The policy also states that students and faculty have the responsibility to acknowledge and respect differing opinions.

Delman said it is beneficial to discuss academic freedom.

“Sometimes the truth is inconvenient, and if powerful people can repress it, then it will be suppressed,” Delman said.