Several high profile cases regarding academic freedom have surfaced on college campuses around the country this past year. What has become clear is that not everyone agrees on, or even understands, what this freedom means or how it is exercised, abused and protected within academe.

On October 14, a panel of national experts will discuss and attempt to clarify the issue during a one-day conference sponsored by UNLV, the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, and the UNLV Faculty Senate. The event, titled "Academic Freedom in a Time of Crisis," will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Richard Tam Alumni Center . It is free and open to the public. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussion.

The conference will begin with opening remarks by UNLV President Carol C. Harter and Senior Vice President and Provost Ray Alden. The keystone speaker will be David Rabban, professor of law at the University of Texas and legal counsel to the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). Other panelists will include W. Lee Hansen, professor of economics at the University of Wisconsin ; Deborah Post, professor of law at Touro College ; and Jane Buck, president of the AAUP.

The following topics will be addressed individually during breakout sessions from 3 to 4 p.m. and again during a roundtable discussion from 4:15 to 5 p.m.:

• Academic freedom, faculty governance and academic responsibility
• Tenure and first amendment protections
• University restrictions on speech in the classroom and academic freedom: students' rights, instructors' responsibilities, and campus enforcement of codes.
• Academic freedom of libraries: Patriot Act, national security
• The Academic Bill of Rights
• Academic freedom and creating an inclusive learning and scholarly environment: ethnic and cultural perspectives in teaching and scholarship
• Academic freedom and community colleges

For more information about the event, visit the School of Law's website.