The University said that criticisms from an academic freedom evaluation omitted “critical information” and contained several inaccuracies in an Aug. 20 letter.
In July, the UT Faculty Council’s Committee of Council on Academic Freedom and Responsibility — which provides advice on and investigates allegations of violations of University policies and academic freedom — published a report stating the University violated multiple institutional rules in its response to the protests.
The letter, from Amanda Cochran-McCall, vice president for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, said the report shows a lack of understanding of institutional rules and the student conduct process. She said the report also shows the limited perspective of a single professor.
In response, Lorraine Pangle, chair-elect of the Faculty Council’s committee, said the committee based the report on the experiences of three committee members on campus, official University statements and media reports.
“If there’s clear, credible evidence of impending violence yes, then they should stop it,” said Pangle, a government professor. “I don’t think there was, in this case. There was credible evidence of an impending intention to set up tents.”
President Jay Hartzell expressed concerns about the committee drawing conclusions without meetings with him or University administration in a letter to the committee on Aug. 9. Pangle responded on Aug. 12, stating members of the committee attended the listening session on May 6 and had direct communication with Hartzell through the Faculty Council Executive Committee, which two members sit on.
“I’m especially interested in thinking about how we can improve the process,” Pangle said. “Both for giving stronger protection to free speech on campus, and better protection for students who’ve been charged with violations in exercising their free speech rights.”