President Response to Graphic Novels Complaint

Publish Date: July 8, 2015

Crafton Hills College recently received a complaint from a student about the content of a graphic novels class. In our concern for the student and wishing to address the complaints, we initially agreed to include a disclaimer on the syllabus. This was a joint decision made by the faculty member and administration with no mandate from administration.

Upon further reflection, we have all agreed that including a disclaimer on any course syllabus is not a solution. It sets an unhealthy precedent by allowing any one person or group to decide on educational content. Furthermore, it discourages free expression of views and speech which are essential components of academic freedom.

College students must take responsibility for their learning. This includes making informed decisions about selecting courses in which to enroll and learning to accept differing points of view. We strive to equip our students with the critical thinking skills to reason through difficult issues that challenge their values and beliefs. I’m proud of our faculty for creating an open learning environment that supports freedom of inquiry and expression.

Dr. Cheryl Marshall

President