Publisher's Synopsis
H. Chandler Davis, a University of Michigan faculty member, became a symbol of academic freedom when suspended and fired in 1954 for refusing to testify to the House Un-American Activities Committee about his political affiliations. Invoking First Amendment protection, Davis was convicted of contempt of Congress and imprisoned for six months. Despite this, he pursued a distinguished career as a mathematician, writer, and advocate for justice. This volume, dedicated to Davis, includes contributions from him, his late spouse-historian Natalie Zemon Davis, and scholars arguing against censorship, anti-protest policies, neutrality statements, the policed campus, and other enemies of resistance. As academic freedom in higher education faces ongoing challenges, these essays offer crucial insights into its importance and the courage needed to defend it.
