Winners of the Auburn Chapter AAUP Academic Freedom Award

he Auburn University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors offers special recognition to the member of Auburn University it sees as most exemplary of the spirit and ideal of academic freedom during the academic year. The honor is awarded each year to the person who: --Has demonstrated high ethical standards and professionalism in his or her field or specialization; and --Has made a significant contribution to advocating, protecting, and extending academic freedom at the university. The award is open to all faculty, staff, administrators, or representatives of duly recognized university organizations. Emeriti professors are eligible.

Meritorious Service Award: Senator Ted Little

This was a special award given to a non-University person who championed academic freedom and shared governance.

The recipient of the Meritorious Service Award has long been a champion of shared governance at Auburn University. Senator Little has for many years supported the best interests of Auburn as a representative from Lee County in the Alabama State Senate. Last fall, for example, he joined with other groups supporting legislation and finally an amendment to the Alabama State Constitution to reform the structure of the Auburn University Board of Trustees. The amendment was intended to expand the size of the Board and bring in new members from outside of Alabama and bring diversity to the Boards habitual ways of thinking. When these purposes were subverted by the Governor's most recent appointments to the Board, Senator Little again represented the best interests of Auburn University by opposing these nominations. By leading a filibuster on the Senate floor, he delayed the vote on the nominees, thus giving students, faculty, staff, and alumni a chance to voice their own objections and to articulate the principles of shared governance.

Photo courtesy of Laura Douglas

2000-2001: Dr. Conner Bailey, Professor, Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology

Each year the Auburn Chapter of the AAUP recognizes a person who best exemplifies in word and deed the spirit and ideal of academic freedom. You have often heard that academic freedom and tenure are not free. Indeed as Jane Buck, President of the National AAUP has said, the price of tenure is a continuing and lifelong moral obligation to exercise academic freedom by speaking out against assaults on our principles. No one has spoken out more loudly and clearly than this year's winner of AAUPs award. He has previously served as president of the Auburns chapter of the AAUP. You know him as one of the few people on this campus who doesnt mind asking the hard questions about academic freedom, shared governance, and ethics. He is good and he is persistent at it. You often heard him speak from the Senate floor, not just representing Ag Econ and Rural Soc, but all-but-fearful of speaking out. What you may not know is that he has repeatedly come to the defense of both tenured and non-tenured faculty when they have conflicts with University administrators or concerns about academic freedom. All the more remarkable is that he is often successful in resolving these disputes. There is no question that he has made a significant contribution to advocating, protecting and extending academic freedom at Auburn University.

1999-2000: Dr. Barry Burkhart, Professor of Psychology

The criteria used to pick Dr. Burkhart included a demonstration of ethical standards in his profession and significant contribution in advocating and protecting academic freedom. Academic freedom is something that we all hold very dear. It has to do with open, intellectually honest, and disciplined inquiry, and Barry Burkhart signifies all of those qualities. There were faculty concerns with the way a past president was brought to Auburn and the way in which that president administered Auburn University. During that time, a committee was formed to discuss these concerns and make recommendations. Dr. Burkhart was a member of that committee. There was also an issue involving former President Martin and his withdrawal of an offer to a professor for tenure. The University Senate formed a committee to investigate this matter. Professor Burkhart was a member of that committee as well. Recently, there was a task force to study the efficiency of Auburn University, and Barry Burkhart chaired that effort. Br. Burkhart provided effective, fair, honest, open, and disciplined leadership. He provided crucial leadership for that committee. He has also shown leadership in the formation and support of the AGLA on campus, serving as its mentor and faculty advisor.

1998-1999: Leigh Davidson, editor of The Plainsman

Ms. Davidson, a senior majoring in journalism from Memphis,TN, was described by The Plainsman faculty advisor, "A puritan's work ethic and a matador's nerve." The AAUP expressed deep appreciation for all of the hard-hitting and investigative reporting that she provided this past year. In many instances, The Plainsman materials were picked up and used by other newspapers because Davidson and her reporters invested so much time in attending Commission, Board and Task-Force meetings, with follow-up interviews of all parties involved. The extensive, fact-filled coverage contributed toward keeping Auburn students and faculty aware of on-going matters. It also served to make involved parties aware that their actions were subject to public purview, as well as to public comment. Davidson's unflinching dedication to first amendment principles and her refusal to back down under tremendous pressures was an inspiration to us all.

1997-1998: Dr. Wayne Flynt, Professor of History

1996-1997: Dr. Larry Gerber, Professor of History

Professor Gerber's record of service to this university, to his discipline, and to the academic community in general has been outstanding. He has served on the Twenty-First Century Commission, College of Liberal Arts SACS Self-Study Committee, the University Budget Advisory Committee, and the University Senate Executive Committee. He has represented his department as a senator, and we chose him to be our Chair-elect and Chair of the University Senate in 1993-94. In 1995 the Auburn University Black Caucus presented him with its Faculty Leadership Award. Additionally, he has provided service in many capacities to his department. Most important, however, have been the contributions on behalf of equity and academic freedom through his involvement with the American Association of University Professors. He has been a member of the Auburn University Chapter Executive Committee, and in 1989-90 he led the Chapter as its President. He was also selected as Chair of the Alabama State Conference of the AAUP from 1993 to 1995 and he currently serves as the organization's secretary-treasurer. At the national level he is the Chair of the Committee on University Governance, and he is a member of the National Council of the Association where he represents area five, encompassing 9 states of the Southeast and 2 territories of the Caribbean. The latter is an elected position. Through his efforts on campus and at the national level, Professor Gerber has been an untiring advocate for faculty rights and academic freedom. Let me read a few of the comments from his colleagues: "I cannot think of another person on the AU campus who has done more for academic freedom. I believe [this award] is overdue." "Larry Gerber has been an untiring voice of fairness, professionalism, and integrity within the History community, the Auburn University Community, and the academic community across the country." And finally, "He brings a spirit of dedication to the principle of academic freedom. It is a reasoned and kind spirit; strong, but not belligerent or necessarily confrontational. To my way of thinking, it is precisely the spirit we need to champion for the betterment of the Auburn Community."

1995-1996: Dr. Glenn Howze, Professor, Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology

1994-1995: Charlotte Ward, Associate Professor Emeritus

Dr. Ward was selected for her numerous contributions to Auburn University, including her service in the AU Physics Dept. from 1959 until her retirement in 1994. Dr. Ward was involved in the AAUP at the local, state, and national levels and was instrumental in persuading the AAUP to remove Auburn from censure in 1993. In her letters of nomination, she was praised by her peers for her efforts to increase faculty participation in university governance and to strengthen faculty rights. She was described as consistently acting in the spirit and ideal of academic freedom. Dr. Wasrd remains a public defender of education and a champion for academic freedom.

1993-1994: Dr. William V. Muse

Auburn University President William Muse was the recipient of the first annual Academic Freedom Award. The principle consideration behind this decision was Dr. Muse's efforts in removing Auburn from the AAUP list of censured administrations. The Executive Committee of the AAUP also was impressed by Dr. Muse's stand on diversity, especially in relation to the Auburn Gay and Lesbian Alliance, and his defense of Professor Wayne Flynt when Flynt was criticized by certain special interests in the state for staements he had made.