Romance in the Ivory Tower: The Rights and Liberty of ConscienceShould the choice to engage in a faculty-student romance be protected or precluded? An argument that the right to choose a romantic partner is a fundamental right of conscience, protected by the U.S Constitution. Allen Ginsberg once declared that "the best teaching is done in bed," but most university administrators would presumably disagree. Many universities prohibit romantic relationships between faculty members and students, and professors who transgress are usually out of a job. In Romance in the Ivory Tower, Paul Abramson takes aim at university policies that forbid relationships between faculty members and students. He argues provocatively that the issue of faculty-student romances transcends the seemingly trivial matter of who sleeps with whom and engages our fundamental constitutional rights. By what authority, Abramson asks, did the university become the arbiter of romantic etiquette among consenting adults? Do we, as consenting adults, have a constitutional right to make intimate choices as long as they do not cause harm? Abramson contends that we do, and bases this claim on two arguments. He suggests that the Ninth Amendment (which states that the Constitution's enumeration of certain rights should not be construed to deny others) protects the "right to romance." And, more provocatively, he argues that the "right to romance" is a fundamental right of conscience--as are freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Campus romances happen. The important question is not whether they should be encouraged or prohibited but whether the choice to engage in such a relationship should be protected or precluded. Abramson argues ringingly that our freedom to make choices--to worship, make a political speech, or fall in love--is fundamental. Rules forbidding faculty-student romances are not only unconstitutional but set dangerous precedents for further intrusion into rights of privacy and conscience. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 21
... one's conscience being a case in point . As these customs grew , including choosing one's religion , and by implication one's God or the choice to forego both , the need to protect the choices made out of a careful de- liberation of one's ...
... one's religious or moral convictions seriously , or highly value liberty to exam- ine one's beliefs . " 23 So at least according to Rawls , we scrupulously protect the liberty of conscience because we revere religious and moral ...
... one's life - from happiness to children - it seems . highly unlikely that romantic decisions were not seriously reflected on , especially within the confines of one's conscience . If so , it would place these choices within the scope of ...
Contents
The Romantic Conscience | 25 |
Liberty of Conscience | 81 |
Liberty of Conscience and the U S Constitutional | 121 |
Copyright | |
2 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Romance in the Ivory Tower: The Rights and Liberty of Conscience Paul R. Abramson Limited preview - 2011 |
Romance in the Ivory Tower: The Rights and Liberty of Conscience Paul R. Abramson No preview available - 2011 |