Dive Summary:
- The City University of New York Faculty Senate's executive committee issued a statement this weekend regarding the harassment of former CIA Director and retired Gen. David Petraeus, who is currently a Macaulay Honors College visiting professor.
- In a video posted to YouTube last week, protesters, some allegedly CUNY students, mob Petraeus as he walks to his first class, following him while yelling expletives and chanting phrases including "Every class, David."
- The executive committee's statement says that all faculty must have the right to express opposing viewpoints, and that the harassment of Petraeus over his viewpoints is a threat to his academic freedom.
From the statement:
... Because they disagree with Professor Petraeus' views, these demonstrators intend to deprive him of his ability to teach and the ability of his students to learn from him.
CUNY has long-established policies to protect the academic freedom of faculty, which are essential for the University's operation as a center of learning. ...