During the past 150 years U.S. courts have demonstrated a special protectiveness toward academics and academic institutions. Academic freedom was not a concern when the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment were drafted and is not mentioned in the "Federalist Papers." However, decisions by a series of Supreme Court justices led to doctrines of constitutional interpretation related to academic matters. Academic freedom issues arose in response to what now seems to be clear abuses of authority. Today, academic freedom issues are complex and intertwined with conflict of interest, public policy, and dissent issues. The point at which academicians' limits to consitutional protection of their rights to express opinions or where speech or conduct so impairs the effective work of an institution that its interests may prevail over those of the individual have yet to be determined. Since the 1960s there has been a growing interest in students' rights. The Constitution has provided a solid base of protection against political or authoritarian interference and guarded free expression in the academic community. (JHP)