The modern American university faces declining financial support from federal and state governments, and one way institutions have saved money has been to offer tenure to fewer professors. The key reason for tenure, is to ensure academic freedom--professors' freedom to teach, conduct research, and perform other duties without fear of job loss or censure. This article presents a survey of 1,004 participating professors to react to real-world dilemmas involving colleagues who wished to teach courses unpopular with their peers, to investigate unpopular topics, and to publish controversial fundings. Professors in the study were more timid than expected. Having tenure was not associated with a greater willingness to speak one's mind or publish controversial findings. The survey concludes that tenure is not living up to its original promise. It does not liberate professors to exercise the freedoms of speech, writing, and action.