The University suspended three faculty members in 1954, two of whom were fired, for standing up for their beliefs.
To this day, the University has not formally apologized for the dismissal of then-mathematics instructor Chandler Davis, former biology Prof. Clement Markert, and former pharmacology Prof. Mark Nickerson for refusing to testify about their political associations during the McCarthy Era.
The University's lack of acknowledgment became the basis for the initiation of the "Davis, Markert and Nickerson Lecture on Academic and Intellectual Freedom."
The speaker for the 8th annual lecture was University of Maryland journalism Prof. Eugene Roberts. Roberts is known for his coverage of the Vietnam War, civil rights and the labor movement.
Roberts spoke about freedom of expression on college campuses, for which he has "grave concern."
"In the last 10 years, there have been some disquieting developments," Roberts said. "Injustices such as speech codes, seizures and burning of campus newspapers, and in some instances, college administrators who have looked the other way, are cause for great concern."
Since graduating from North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1954, Roberts has worked for the New York Times, the Detroit Free Press, and served as the Executive Editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer. During his 18 years at the Inquirer, the newspaper won 17 Pulitzer Prizes.
Roberts "is a person perfectly suited to deliver this lecture," University President Lee Bollinger said.
In 1989, the issue of formally expressing regret for the dismissals was brought to the University Board of Regents, but was not acted upon by the regents at the time. The motion eventually died.
"The lecture was set up, so to speak, to remind the University year after year of their actions," said mathematics Prof. emeritus Wilfred Kaplan, who chairs the Michigan Chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
Davis was the only of the three professors honored at the lecture. Markert is out of the country and Nickerson recently passed away.
Davis was subpoenaed due to a pamphlet he published attacking the U.S. House of Representatives for "un-American activities."
He refused to testify in front of Congress and was charged with contempt of Congress for which he was sentenced to serve six months in prison.
Davis, a mathematics professor at the University of Toronto, was dismissed from the University by then-University President Harlan Hatcher.
Roberts also detailed the importance of freedom of expression in the evolution of America. He cited examples such as women suffragists who exercised their right to assemble by picketing the White House, and the role of southern newspapers in bringing about the civil rights movement.
Kaplan said he wants Bollinger to bring the apology before the regents again because of his traditionally pro-faculty stance and his previous involvement with the lecture.
Bollinger was chosen as the lecturer in 1992 when he was dean of the Law School, and gave his speech titled "The Open Minded Soldier and the University." Before this year's lecture, Bollinger described the treatment of the three professors as "unjust."
The speaker for the annual lecture is chosen by Peggie Hollingsworth, the president of the Academic Freedom Lecture Fund, Louis D'Alecy, chair of the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs and Kaplan.
"He was wonderful - one of the best we've had," Kaplan said. "He was chosen from a long list of impressive candidates."
Also during yesterday's Senate Assembly meeting, which took place before the lecture, English Prof. Jacqueline Lawson, economics Prof. Sherrie Kossoudji and sociology Prof. Donald Deskins were elected by the Senate Assembly yesterday to serve as new members on the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs - the faculty's advising committee.
They will replace current members D'Alecy and Education Prof. Valerie Lee. Deskins will return to SACUA after serving a partial term. A normal term for SACUA members lasts two years.
D'Alecy, the out-going chair of SACUA, said he is positive the new members will succeed.
"Don has a lot of history and will maintain continuity for next term," D'Alecy said. "Jackie is very active, and will be a strong member. And I'm less familiar with Sherrie, but I hear she is a strong contributor in her department."