Make a Call for Academic Freedom
Last week, Washington State University announced
that it was pulling Michael Pollan's
best-selling book The Omnivore's Dilemma from
its required Common Reading Program for all
incoming freshman due to pressure from corporate
agribusiness.
This type of censorship cannot stand!
In March of this year, a university committee
had selected Pollan's book, which takes a
careful look at how America produces its food,
and decided that it was an excellent choice for
the student body of the land grant university.
Unfortunately, WSU administrators later removed
the book from the required common reading
program. While top WSU officials attributed
removal of Pollan's book from the reading
program to hard financial times, despite the
fact the 4,000 copies of the book have already
been purchased, some faculty members have spoken
out.
End Corporate Influence and Fear at America's Land Grant Universities
One WSU professor, quoted in The Chronicle of
Higher Education - anonymously, for fear of
losing their job, stated that Pollan's book was
pulled "because of the politics of the
agriculture industryŠand that President Floyd
decided that this was not a battle he wanted to
wage."
It's time that this type of corporate control
over land grant education and research end.
We believe that academic freedom and vigorous
debate on all intellectual issues should be
encouraged at every university, especially land
grant universities charged with turning out the
next generation of leaders of 21st century
agriculture.
If you want university research to be free of
the corruptive influence of corporate
agribusiness, you need to call or write today.
Stand up for Michael Pollan and Academic Freedom!
Let WSU President Elson Floyd know that you
support the university's original decision for
all incoming freshman to read The Omnivore's
Dilemma and believe he should honor that
commitment.
Sustainably Yours,
Food Democracy Now!
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<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?FoodDemocracyNow/894cc55fc0/11fcdc03f4/5dc4c7822e/page_id=364>Write
or Call WSU President Elson Floyd Today at:
Washington State University
Office of the President - President Elson Floyd
Phone Number: 509-335-6666
Sample Phone Script:
Please tell WSU President Floyd to:
I'm calling today to ask the President Floyd
stand firm on academic freedom and include The
Omnivore's Dilemma in the university's Common
Reading Program.
It's important that students at land grant
universities be exposed to all ideas, especially
those that challenge the orthodoxies of our
times. Academic freedom at universities and
freedom of speech are the foundation of a
democracy and I believe that The Omnivore's
Dilemma is a crucial part of the ongoing debate
in society about how food is produced in America
and its impact on our nation's citizens.
We encourage all interactions with WSU staff,
whether written or spoken to be polite and
respectful.
Email: <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
Sample Letter:
Subject: Support Michael Pollan and Academic Freedom
Dear President Floyd,
I appreciate Washington State University's
original decision to select Michael Pollan's
award-winning book The Omnivore's Dilemma to be
read by all incoming freshman as part of the
university's Common Reading Program.
Pollan's work is important, not because it takes
a critical look at industrial agriculture, as it
has been commonly portrayed in the media, but
because Pollan gives a rational critique of
organic practices and companies as well.
Regretfully, that original decision to include
this important book, which was hailed by WSU
scholars and students alike, has been reversed
because of undue industry pressure. Since 4,000
copies of the book have already been bought, it
would not only be a crime against academic
freedom, but it would be financially wasteful as
well.
Today, I join with thousands of Americans across
the country asking that you stand up for
intellectual honesty and academic freedom by
reinstating the decision to allow all incoming
freshman to read this harmless, yet wonderful
book so they can make the decision themselves.
It's a shame that WSU's freshman may be denied
the opportunity to read this important book as a
result of industry influence.
We stand behind you to make the right decision
and let academic freedom ring, please reinstate
Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma into the
Common Reading Program.
Sincerely,
[Your name here
City, State]
If you like you can:
Invite President Floyd to an event to speak on
academic freedom
<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?FoodDemocracyNow/894cc55fc0/11fcdc03f4/be11c76bfb/FormID=1>you
can contact him here:
<http://pubforms.wsu.edu/president/renderer.aspx?FormID=1>http://pubforms.wsu.edu/president/renderer.aspx?FormID=1
Phone: 509/335-7932 or
Email: <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
Sources:
1. WSU Selects "Omnivore's Dilemma" as 2009
Common Reading Book for Freshmen - March 26, 2009
<http://www.wsunews.wsu.edu/pages/publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=14154&PageID=&ReferrerCode=uggc%3A%2F%2Fjjj.jfharjf.jfh.rqh%2Fcntrf%2Ffrnepu.nfc%3FCntrVQ%3D%26Xrljbeqf%3Dzvpunry+cbyyna>http://www.wsunews.wsu.edu/pages/publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=14154&PageID=&ReferrerCode=uggc%3A%2F%2Fjjj.jfharjf.jfh.rqh%2Fcntrf%2Ffrnepu.nfc%3FCntrVQ%3D%26Xrljbeqf%3Dzvpunry+cbyyna
2. WSU Common Reading Program - Cans Michael
Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma - May 1, 2009
<http://commonreading.wsu.edu>http://commonreading.wsu.edu/
3. WSU's Book Controversy Shines Light on Big
Ag's Influence on Land Grant Schools - May 23,
2009
<http://www.livablefutureblog.com/2009/05/wsus-book-controversy-shines-light-on-big-ags-influence-on-land-grant-schools/>http://www.livablefutureblog.com/2009/05/wsus-book-controversy-shines-light-on-big-ags-influence-on-land-grant-schools/
4. Washington State's Dilemma: How to Serve Up a
Book Criticizing the Food Industry - May 21, 2009
<http://chronicle.com/daily/2009/05/18512n.htm>http://chronicle.com/daily/2009/05/18512n.htm
5. Washington State University - Say It Isn't
So. Hey, Michael Pollan, I'll Pay Your Way to
Pullman
<http://www.marlerblog.com/2009/05/articles/lawyer-oped/washington-state-university-say-it-isnt-so-hey-michael-pollan-ill-pay-your-way-to-pullman/>http://www.marlerblog.com/2009/05/articles/lawyer-oped/washington-state-university-say-it-isnt-so-hey-michael-pollan-ill-pay-your-way-to-pullman/
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