TB Davie Memorial Lecture: Academic freedom

The “myth” of academic freedom will be explored during Dr Steven Salaita’s open lecture at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) upcoming annual TB Davie Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, 7 August.

Salaita, a Palestinian-American scholar, author and public speaker, will deliver the annual lecture under the banner: The inhumanity of academic freedom.

During his address, he will explore academic freedom in relation to the conditions of humanity “in the midst of brutal inequality”. He will argue that academic freedom is a myth, prioritised over the political movements it is meant to protect.

Now in its 53rd year, the TB Davie Memorial Lecture series was introduced by students to honour Davie, a former UCT vice-chancellor and defender of the principles of academic freedom.

Organised by UCT’s Academic Freedom Committee (AFC), the lectures invite distinguished speakers to address the audience on a theme related to academic and human freedom.