About the 'Intellectual Diversity in Higher Education Act' (HB 525)

HB 525 threatens academic freedom:

• Representative Roger Koopman (R-Bozeman) plans to introduce bill draft HB 525 in the 2007 Legislature, calling it the "Intellectual Diversity in Higher Education Act."

• HB 525 is extremely deceptive. It cleverly uses language that implies it will protect free speech in Montana colleges and universities. In reality, it is a political tool to deny the academic freedom and free speech rights of Montana students and faculty.

• National effort. The bill is part of a national movement to have politics, not academic standards, determine what happens in the classroom. National groups have pushed bills and initiatives similar to HB 525 in 24 states. In some states, it's called the "Academic Bill of Rights (ABOR)." In other states, the term is "intellectual diversity."

Rejected elsewhere:
States that have considered similar laws have rejected them.

Déjà vu all over again:
This is another attempt by wealthy out-of-staters to control Montana-just like 2006 when a New York City multi-millionaire tried to push three extreme initiatives on our state (CI-97, CI-98, and I-154).

What HB 525 does:

• It creates an expensive new level of government bureaucracy, requiring studies, annual hearings, and annual reports on the state of "intellectual diversity" on each Montana campus.

• It requires hiring an ombudsman at each campus to ensure "intellectual diversity."

• It claims to protect students from political, religious, and ideological interference. But in fact, it can prevent faculty members and students from discussing new or controversial ideas - conservative, liberal, or otherwise.

Why HB 525 is a bad idea:

• It doesn't solve anything. Montana students are not complaining about ideological imbalance in the classroom. Also, Montana students are already protected by academic standards and grievance procedures in place at every school. There is no evidence of a problem. Why pass a bill when there's no problem to solve?

• It's expensive. This bill is an invitation to tie up Montana's colleges and universities in endless public hearings and litigation. Florida rejected a similar bill because it would cost taxpayers millions of dollars every year.

• HB 525 is a distraction from real problems. There are so many real issues in higher education to solve, such as rising student debt. Why focus on a "problem" that doesn't exist with a "solution" that would create problems?

• It threatens freedom and open debate. College is supposed to be about the free exchange of ideas. Students are encouraged to challenge ideas and viewpoints as part of the learning process. HB 525 would interfere with this exchange by imposing political pressure and an ideological litmus test on hiring, curriculum, and teaching.

• Students are already protected. Montana campuses have clear standards and procedures that protect students from being treated unfairly in academic matters.

Where did this idea come from?

• The "Academic Bill of Rights" or "Intellectual Diversity Act" is the brainchild of right-wing activist David Horowitz. Horowitz was well known during the 1960s and '70s as a Marxist-Leninist activist. He later swung over to the conservative extreme.

• The group promoting the "Intellectual Diversity Act" in Montana is the American Council of Trustees and Alumni of Washington, DC (Anne Neal, president). Neal has been in Montana promoting HB 525.