[RSCT] Update: Against censorship, for academic freedom: In Defense of Michael Pollan Let Freedom Ring!

Thu May 28 15:27:08 CDT 2009

Congratulations & Thank You!

We just got off the phone with the Washington State University’s President’s 
office and congratulated them on the decision to reinstate Michael Pollan’s 
book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, as part of their Common Reading Program.

Within hours of sending out our alert, we received the good news from a 
supporter named Lynn:

“The power of numbers!  By the time I called, 3:21 Pacific, the president's 
office told me that they've gotten so many calls about this  and, thanks to 
a generous donation by an alumni, the program and the book has been 
reinstated.  Food Democracy Now!  rocks!”

While we appreciate that sentiment, we’d also like to give credit where 
credit is due.

We understand that food safety lawyer Bill Marler, a WSU alum and former 
Regents of the university, had a conversation with President Elson Floyd 
about the reading program this afternoon and offered to pay for Michael 
Pollan’s trip as well as pay for the full cost to cover the Common Reading 
Program.

Food Democracy Now!  wants to thank Mr. Marler for his extremely generous 
support on this issue and also everyone who responded to this alert.  Three 
cheers for Pollan, Marler and WSU!

This is a testament to what we can accomplish when we all work together.

Thanks so much for your continued support.

Sustainably Yours,

Dave

Food Democracy Now!

If you'd like to see Food Democracy Now!'s grassroots work continue, please 
consider donating as little as $10 or $25 .  We appreciate your support! 
?page_id=9

http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/?page_id=9

 Sources:

WSU Will Restore Common Reading Program Wednesday, May 27, 2009

http://www.wsunews.wsu.edu/pages/publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=14626&PageID=84&ReferrerCode=%2Fcntrf%2Fchoyvpngvbaf.nfc

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "S. Kashdan" <skashdan at scn.org>
To: "Rethinking Schools List" <RS at criticalteach.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 8:31 AM
Subject: [RSCT] Against censorship,for academic freedom: In Defense of 
Michael Pollan Let Freedom Ring!

From: "Food Democracy Now!" Food_Democracy_Now at mail.vresp.com

Subject: In Defense of Michael Pollan Let Freedom Ring!

Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 19:22:26 +0000

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 industry...and 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!

If you'd like to see Food Democracy Now!'s grassroots work continue,
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?FoodDemocracyNow/894cc55fc0/4bfc4e5248/40b1101751/page_id=9%20please
consider donating as little as $10 or $25. We appreciate your support!
http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/?page_id=9

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://cts.vresp.com/c/?FoodDemocracyNow/894cc55fc0/4bfc4e5248/5dc4c7822e/page_id=364Write
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: PresidentsOffice at wsu.edu

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/894cc55fc0/4bfc4e5248/be11c76bfb/FormID=1you
can contact him here:
http://pubforms.wsu.edu/president/renderer.aspx?FormID=1

Phone: 509/335-7932 or

Email: mailto:gkdruffel at wsu.edugkdruffel@wsu.edu

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

2. WSU Common Reading Program -- Cans Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s
Dilemma -- May 1, 2009

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/

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

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/

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