About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherMIT Press

ISBN-10026251592X

ISBN-139780262515924

eBay Product ID (ePID)16038259953

Product Key Features

Number of Pages176 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication NameRomance in the Ivory Tower : the Rights and Liberty of Conscience

SubjectConstitutional, Higher, Political Freedom

Publication Year2011

TypeTextbook

AuthorPaul R. Abramson

Subject AreaLaw, Political Science, Education

FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height0.5 in

Item Weight7.1 Oz

Item Length7.7 in

Item Width5.2 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

Reviews"Romance in the Ivory Towerpresents a compelling argument about the erosion of the rights of privacy and conscience. The debate in this book transcends the issue of personal relationships within academia and engages fundamental questions of liberty and personal choice." -Nadine Strossen, President, American Civil Liberties Union, and Professor of Law, New York Law School

Dewey Edition22

Grade FromCollege Graduate Student

Dewey Decimal342.7308/58

SynopsisShould 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., Should 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., Should 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.

LC Classification NumberKF4770.A93 2011