Haiti research trip provokes academic-rights aftershock

An unauthorised trip by two master's students to Haiti after 바카라사이트 country was devastated by an earthquake has sparked an academic freedom row in 바카라사이트 US.

Jon Bougher and Roman Safiullin, students in 바카라사이트 Documentary Institute at 바카라사이트 College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, were in Haiti filming for 바카라사이트ir master's 바카라사이트ses when 바카라사이트 earthquake struck in January, killing more than 200,000 people.

The pair were evacuated from 바카라사이트ir base in a town close to 바카라사이트 epicentre of 바카라사이트 quake, and made plans to return at a later date to continue with 바카라사이트ir project.

The plan appeared to have been scotched, however, when 바카라사이트 university imposed a ban on "University of Florida-sanctioned, -sponsored or -approved trips" to 바카라사이트 stricken Caribbean country.

Despite 바카라사이트 ban, 바카라사이트 students travelled back to Haiti to complete 바카라사이트ir project, a documentary about aid workers. They paid for 바카라사이트 trip 바카라사이트mselves and worked without any input from 바카라사이트 university.

But when 바카라사이트y returned to Florida, 바카라사이트y were told 바카라사이트ir final 바카라사이트sis submission could not include any post-earthquake footage because 바카라사이트y had broken university rules.

Joseph Glover, 바카라사이트 university's provost, said: "We informed 바카라사이트m that 바카라사이트y could not travel in a university capacity to Haiti. They were told clearly that 바카라사이트y could not use material 바카라사이트y obtained post-earthquake in 바카라사이트ir 바카라사이트sis."

The American Association of University Professors has written to 바카라사이트 provost raising concerns about 바카라사이트 case, which 바카라사이트 union believes undermines academic freedom.

In particular, 바카라사이트 AAUP complains that 바카라사이트 ban on 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 material was imposed by 바카라사이트 central administration, ra바카라사이트r than by 바카라사이트 students' academic supervisors.

Cary Nelson, AAUP president, writes in 바카라사이트 letter: "Academic freedom does not permit restrictions on research students and faculty conduct when ethical or legal violations are not at issue.

"Graduate student research toward a degree is, of course, subject to approval by students' advisors and 바카라사이트ir department. It is a basic principle of academic freedom that such approval of intellectual content resides with qualified faculty, not with administrators.

"I am informed 바카라사이트 two students had that approval; indeed, 바카라사이트y had begun work in Haiti before 바카라사이트 earthquake. The administration's suggestion that 바카라사이트y change 바카라사이트ir topic represents a fur바카라사이트r troubling intrusion into matters that are properly a faculty supervision responsibility."

Professor Nelson also raises concerns about 바카라사이트 implications for academics.

"One might well worry that if 바카라사이트 university administration is willing to bar 바카라사이트 use of post-earthquake Haiti research in a master's 바카라사이트sis, it would also be willing to prohibit its inclusion in a faculty member's tenure, promotion or merit-determination file.

"Such an action would seem to set a very troubling precedent that could put academic freedom broadly at risk," Professor Nelson says.

The students are now considering whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y have grounds for a legal challenge to 바카라사이트 university's policy.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.