As a Jayhawk alumna, I am very proud of our rich tradition of idealism and activism and applaud all students who stay engaged in critical conversations. As dean, I would like to clarify a few points in response to the article written by Students for a Sustainable Future in Lawrence Journal-World’s Your Turn column (Sept. 21).

Academic freedom is the bedrock on which great universities are built. It is vital for students to be exposed to multiple points of view. I may not agree with every point of view expressed by every professor on this campus, but I celebrate and defend their right to their perspective. KU is a marketplace for ideas.

With respect to the classroom experience, Art Hall is a lecturer who was hired in 2004. We ask of him what we ask of every faculty member in our school: to have strong credentials, to be effective in the classroom, and to be respectful of different points of view. He does that admirably as evidenced in his receiving the 2014 MBA Association Educator of the Year award, which is voted on by students. In regards to research, as is the case with any employee, when Art presents his viewpoints in different forums, he is required to qualify them as his own and not those of the School of Business or KU.

Finally, all Kansas Open Records Act requests are handled by the KU records custodian. The School of Business does not have access or authority to release the information requested. Following the law, the university charges amounts commensurate with the costs of providing university personnel to procure and produce requested information. The cost associated with responding to a request is a direct reflection on the scope of the request. In this case, Students for a Sustainable Future requested, among other things, personal correspondence for several faculty over several decades. As a matter of fairness, the university treats all requests the same and does not waive fees. We have nothing to hide; however as a unit in a state agency we are required to follow university policies and state law.

I am proud of the faculty, staff and students in the KU School of Business and I am honored to lead this impressive group.