MEDIA ADVISORY

TO:                     News Directors and Education Reporters

FROM:                 University Relations

SUBJECT:            UA President Mark Hamilton to Receive Academic Freedom Award

University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton will be receiving an Academic Freedom Award from the National Association of Scholars on Sunday, March 10 at a dinner to be held in his honor.

The Academic Freedom Award is reserved for someone in a position of academic leadership who makes a significant contribution to the cause of academic freedom and integrity. Mark R. Hamilton is its first recipient.

"The National Association of Scholars has honored several distinguished professors by means of the Sidney Hook Memorial Award," said Judith Kleinfeld, director of UAF Northern Studies program and president of the Alaska Association of Scholars. "But President Hamilton is the first administrator to be honored for his courageous stand on academic freedom."

Hamilton received national attention from the Wall Street Journal and the Chronicle of Higher Education last year for his strong support for the right of free speech.

"This is a special award for the occasion, the first of its kind to a university president," said Bradford Wilson with the National Association of Scholars. "Perhaps there will be others in the future, but his is a first."

The National Association of Scholars is America's foremost higher education reform group. Located in Princeton, N.J., it has 46 state affiliates and more than 4,000 professors, graduate students, administrators and trustees as members.

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Note to Editors: A video tape of the dinner will be available for media Monday afternoon. Stations are asked to provide their own tape and key KUAC-TV/UAF over footage.

CONTACT: Judith Kleinfeld, Director of UAF Northern Studies program and President of the Alaska Association of Scholars at (907) 474-5266, or UAF Public Information Officer Carla Browning at (907) 474-7778.

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