ISU Lecture Series: Academic Freedom: From Professional Norm to First Amendment Right

Thursday, Sep 25, 2025

6:00 pm

Sun Room, Memorial Union

Speaker: David Rabban

Description: Fall 2025 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar

This talk will compare the professional norm of academic freedom that originated from the 1915 Declaration of the newly formed American Association of University Professors with the development of academic freedom as a First Amendment right, as recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court beginning in the 1950s. After summarizing current law, this talk will explore the development of a distinctive First Amendment right of academic freedom that protects the expert speech of professors for societal interest in the production and dissemination of knowledge. The talk will touch on many current controversies, such as restrictions on teaching designated subjects and theories, regulation of hate and other offensive speech, limitations on public access to university campuses, and mandatory “diversity statements” for faculty candidates.

David M. Rabban is the Dahr Jamail, Randall Hage Jamail, and Robert Lee Jamail Regents Chair in Law at the University of Texas School of Law. He joined the university in 1983. His served as general counsel to the American Association of University Professors and chair of its committee on academic freedom and tenure. His teaching and research focus on free speech, academic speech, and higher education law. His latest book published in 2024 is titled “Academic Freedom: From Professional Norm to First Amendment Right.”

The University Book Store will be onsite selling “Academic Freedom: From Professional Norm to First Amendment Right” at the event.