Pennsylvania law also recognizes that private colleges are public forums for First Amendment purposes. Thus full First Amendment protections for dissemination of information as well as public expression is available on Albright College property.

In sum, college faculty should feel free of institutional censorship as well as fear of reprisals in expressing their conscience on the Zimon issue. I am sure that most, if not all, faculty members already do. I hope the protections of academic freedom enumerated contractually in the Faculty Handbook, as well as state and federal laws, allow all faculty members to breathe lighter as they weigh their professional responses to the questions before them.

I have requested the faculty chair to seek confidential votes from the faculty should any of the issues relating to President Zimon come to a vote. This will not only enable people to vote their conscience, but for those faculty who are concerned about divisiveness, a confidential vote would be less divisive. I hope the chair will allow secret ballot.

Finally, I think it would be impractical for the faculty as a whole to investigate the facts. Perhaps we can vote on a mechanism on how the charges will be examined. The review needs to be methodical, thorough and complete so that these matters are settled decisively for once and for all. I have repeatedly stated, and restate again, that if we can establish a fair and efficient mechanism to investigate these issues, I will repose my faith in the outcome, whatever that outcome might be.

Achal Mehra

Communications Program 10/26/99

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