Students in the performing or visual arts who feel burdened by the chains of censorship will not have to worry about those chains being binding at NIU.

The Faculty Senate has put student concerns in the forefront by agreeing with ideas on academic and artistic freedom recommended by the American Association of University Professors.

Basically, the senate supports students’ rights to be as creative as possible in the classroom.

Unfortunately, not everyone feels that way, which is evident in a recent Cincinnati court case. A Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit in a gallery offended enough people to justify a case for censorship, which shows a need for freedom safeguards.

The senate is protecting students in case a cry of censorship begins to stifle imagination in classes.

And the University Council is next on the rubber stamp parade before the accepted recommendation becomes NIU policy. Council members should approve the recommendation.

An approval would tell the university community that NIU is willing to accept possibly valuable art that might not be deemed appropriate by the majority or some minorities.

A university atmosphere traditionally has been noted as a place for students to discover new aspects of their lives and life around them.

Fortunately, the senate has taken steps to protect rights before part of an offended populace starts shaking chains in the face of artistic freedom.