Monterey Peninsula College: Ideological Litmus Loyalty Oath for Professors

Case Materials

• "Prof. Clemens and FIRE Bring Down a New-Age Loyalty Oath," FIRE Press Release, September 14, 2000: If a public college demanded that all courses cover Americanism or spirituality, the walls would crumble and the cry of tyranny would be heard across the land. Monterey Peninsula College tried to force all professors to address race, gender, and class and Professor Clemens to address "male sexists." Clemens stood tall and contacted FIRE.
• "What the "PC" in "MPC" Really Means," July 11, 2000
• "PC Loyalty Oath," July 7, 2000: FIRE is actively involved in supporting Professor David Clemens in his resistance to an ideological litmus test at Monterey Peninsula College, in a case that goes to the heart of academic freedom and new-age efforts to trample it in the name of political correctness.

Media Coverage

• "Halvorssen Fights the PC Fire With FIRE," Stephen Goode, Insight on the News, January 23, 2001
• "College Drops Rule Calling for Multicultural Component in All New Courses," Courtney Leatherman, The Chronicle of Higher Education, September 18, 2000
• "Professor Accuses College of Applying 'Loyalty Oath' in Shelving His Course Proposal," Brock Read, The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 18, 2000
• "English Prof Stands Up to Tyranny," Debra Saunders, San Francisco Chronicle, July 4, 2000