As the University celebrates its 150th anniversary, now is an appropriate time to try to answer some basic questions: What is the purpose of a university? What can a university do that sets it apart from other institutions in society? How does a university define its mission and implement it? What roles does academic freedom play toward these and other ends?
Two prominent speakers will be coming to the University to address these very questions. Mary Burgan and Edward “Tad” Foote will hold a panel discussion at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 24 in the new Arts & Sciences Laboratory Science Building, Room 300.
The title of the presentation is “Academic Freedom and the Purpose of the University.” The University’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is sponsoring the discussion.
WUSTL is unique among American universities in that it has had two chancellors, Ethan A.H. Shepley and William H. Danforth, honored with the Miekeljohn Award from the AAUP for their defense of academic freedom.
Foote is chancellor of the University of Miami, having served as its president from 1981-2001.
Foote is a former dean of the Washington University School of Law, where he taught civil rights and advanced constitutional law, and legal ethics. He also served as vice chancellor, general counsel and secretary to the Board of Trustees.
Foote is founding co-chairman of the Alliance for Ethical Government and founding chairman of the Miami Coalition For A Safe and Drug-Free Community. He is a member of the Florida Council of 100 and a trustee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
Burgan was appointed general secretary of the AAUP in July 1994.
She had been professor of English at Indiana University, where she also had held several administrative assignments including associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and chair of the English Depart-ment. She had been active in faculty governance, and had been elected leader of the Bloomington and University faculty councils.
Burgan earned a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hill College and a master’s and doctorate from the University of Illinois.
For more information, call 935-6279.