“academic freedom” is PC speak meaning the “academic”; i.e., the professor, has absolute freedom, while the students, the Board of Regents, the taxpayer (who foots the bill) can go pound sand.
The general public believes that “academic freedom” conveys freedom of speech at the academy. The reality is that only the “academics” get freedom of speech. If you don’t believe it, then try being a conservative student or faculty member at one of these institutions that embrace “academic freedom”.
Last week I read all the attacks against UCI on the Orange County Register. I knew I hated lawyers but had no idea they were all so liberal.
http://www.ocregister.com/news/chemerinsky-drake-uci-1846810-university-campus