Freund Humanus

Secret universities in the United States of America, in response to the suppression of academic freedom.

In October 2010, the Georgia Board of Regents decided to effectively ban students without documented immigration status from attending 5 of the 61 Universities and Technical College Systems of Georgia. This has been enforced since the fall of 2011 through a series of admissions provisions. Georgia was following the example of South Carolina in voluntarily policing immigration laws. Of the 310,000 students in the Georgia system, only 501 fall into the status that would have them excluded. And yet, the regents saw fit to take this remarkable step.

In response, Freedom University was founded. It is a university run by volunteer professors, convening in a secret location somewhere in Georgia. It’s mission statement reads:

Founded in 2011, Freedom University is a volunteer-driven organization that provides rigorous, college-level instruction to all academically qualified students regardless of their immigration status. Our faculty are fully committed to providing our students with college courses equivalent to those taught at the state’s most selective universities. We believe that all Georgians have an equal right to a quality education. Separate and unequal access to higher education contravenes this country’s most cherished principles of equality and justice for all.

The first Freedom University course, American Civilization I, is in session right now.

Learn more about Freedom University on Democracy Now!