About

Veterans for Academic Freedom.org is dedicated to the pursuit of truth.

“The differences of opinion, and the jarring of parties in [the legislative] department of the government . . . often promote deliberation and circumspection; and serve to check the excesses of the majority.”[1]

–Alexander Hamilton

Freedom of thought, of curiosity, of inquiry, and of speech; are some of the most basic rights of every citizen, rights that are  not only espoused by our constitution but inherent to the human condition. These are intrinsic freedoms that do not disappear simply when an individual steps onto a college campus. Yet students are routinely denied the right the to speak freely in the current culture of academia and are often fearful of being ostracized by a pervasively hostile political agenda. Education is no longer politically neutral and has not been for some time. What is worse is that students often fear retaliation for questioning the political beliefs that college and university Professors choose to inject into everyday discussion.

This violation is especially egregious when veterans, who have often risked their very lives for the right of free expression, are denigrated by those who have never risked anything for the same said rights, and hold both our veterans and the Constitution they have sworn to defend in contempt. We at VAF do not believe that freedom of speech or inquiry are rights unique to veterans, nor that they have any extra-ordinary claims to them. We believe rather that it is our solemn duty defend the civil liberties of the United States citizen in the University with the same due diligence as we have done on land, air or sea; to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

If America’s veterans can stand up for the virtue of intellectual freedom in the University, so too can the youth of this country freely express their own beliefs without fear or shame.

Mission Statement

To promote American values and ethics in the college environment, ensure veterans are not subject to anti-American or anti-Christian discrimination, promote conservative thought of the founding fathers, and restore patriotism.

Goals

1. To ensure the public college environment is free from political abuse from the university.
2. To ensure the values of veterans are allowed and represented on campus.
3. To establish a dept. of military studies on campus that is separated from R.O.T.C. studies.

Principles of Veterans for Academic Freedom

1. Students and instructors alike have the same right to intellectual freedom, skepticism, and curiosity.
2. Instructors have a fiduciary duty towards the students that fill their classes with information vital to the subject matter of the class, and not to waver from their professional duties by discussing personal beliefs that are not related to course material.
3. Instructors have no “rights” over the subject matter that students do not.
4. Students must be free to challenge any and all material presented without fear of any reprisals from instructors. In the Socratic pursuit of the truth, instructors need to invite students to challenge material presented as this ensures that weak or outdated material is exposed, and stronger material is thoroughly tested.
5. Students must be informed of their rights at the beginning of the semester; it must be made known what is expected of students beforehand and what is considered deviations from subject matter.  It will be made explicitly known that when an instructor speaks outside of their subject knowledge, they speak as laymen and not experts.
6. That education in matters of political, ethical, or philosophical relevance should be open to a free market of ideas; that diversity on campus should be about a diversity of ideas and not oppressive speech codes.
7. That issues and concerns of veterans must not be dismissed or belittled during class time; nor should any idea be ridiculed or dismissed out of hand without the opportunity for students to critically assess the merit of said idea.
8. Students must be graded only on the understanding and knowledge of the material,  not their opinion of it.
9. Material for both sides of controversial material must be presented for consideration.
10. That no topic should be held taboo as long as it relevant to the discussion material of the class.

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[1] The Federalist No. 70, at 426-37 (Alexander Hamilton) (Clnton Rossiter ed. 1961).

The Articles of the Code of Conduct

ARTICLE I:

I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

ARTICLE II:

I will never surrender of my own free will.   If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.

ARTICLE III:

If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available.   I will make every effort to escape and to aid others to escape.   I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

ARTICLE IV:

If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners.   I will give no information nor take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command.   If not, I will obey lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them in every way.

ARTICLE V:

When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth.   I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability.   I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country or its allies or harmful to their cause.

ARTICLE VI:

I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free.   I will trust in my God and in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

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