Last week’s complaint by the American Association of University Professors concerning the administration’s removal of professor Dominique Homberger from class instruction has sparked a storm of controversy across campus — and has raised eyebrows nationwide. The debacle raises several important and controversial questions. How low should student grades sink before administrative action becomes necessary? Should professors be allowed to flunk as many students as they see fit? More importantly, did the administration curtail Homberger’s academic freedom by removing her from the classroom?It’s a serious question with real, potentially devastating implications. Especially in light of other alleged abuses of professors, such as the Ivor van Heerden lawsuit, a picture is developing with frightening clarity of an administration that puts political interests over academic interests.This is a serious offense in a university setting — one that demands decisive action.It unfortunately seems higher administration officials either do not understand or chose to ignore the larger implications of the Homberger debacle. Our reporter was repeatedly told during his investigation the matter is being addressed as a human resources issue, not an academic issue.This is unacceptable.The removal would be a human resources issue if it was merely a standard issue of competence or job performance. But nobody questions Homberger’s performance — she is a long-standing, tenured faculty member who is widely considered a star researcher.This is instead a problem with academic freedom, and administrative actions concerning the matter need to treat it as such.How the administration handles this problem will have larger implications than just Homberger’s personal complaints. The faculty currently employed by the University — and any professor considering joining them — needs to know the administration does not in any way wish to impede the academic freedom of its employees and that it takes accusations to that effect with the utmost gravity.Faculty members are angry and scared because of the removal — and the administration has so far done little to allay those fears. It needs to start doing so, and it needs to start doing so immediately.The stakes are too high to ignore the problem.- – – -Contact the Editorial Board at [email protected]