Campus Rules and Moral Community

Colleges and universities have largely abandoned their traditional stance in loco parentis, as moral guardians over student life, and instead seek to promote toleration while preventing conflict. In doing so, argues David A. Hoekema, they fail to provide an atmosphere conducive to the attainment of the kind of responsible independence that such goals presuppose.

David A. Hoekema . . . has written an entertaining, good-humored, and pointed account of the stages by which American higher education has moved away from the 'Rin loco parentis' doctrine, and he also has documented the sometimes befuddled and even comic attempts to find alternative ways of defining campus 'community'., ...this is not only a useful book, but it is really a remarkably important contribution in an area of great sensitivity and public concern. Hoekema has done a careful, imaginative and responsible job of sorting out the issues of collegiate responsibilityfor behavior within the campus community...it will make such an important contribution to the emerging national debate on the subject.-Stanley N. Katz, American Council of Learned Societiessss, ...well thought out and deserves extensive consideration...a thoughtful discussion..., "...this is not only a useful book, but it is really a remarkably important contribution in an area of great sensitivity and public concern. Hoekema has done a careful, imaginative and responsible job of sorting out the issues of collegiate responsibility for behavior within the campus community...it will make such an important contribution to the emerging national debate on the subject."-Stanley N. Katz, American Council of Learned Societies

David Hoekema is academic dean and professor of philosophy at Calvin College. He is a former executive director of the American Philosophical Association.