Depoliticizing the University

Reviewing David Rabban’s recent book last week, John McGinnis called attention to the distinction between academic freedom and the freedom of speech. The latter concept is often seen as the key to depoliticizing universities, purging them from ideological bias. The idea of politicization, however, implicates a broader question about the principles that ought to guide a university’s (or other social institution’s) activity, and how those relate to principles that ought to guide civil government.