The American Association of University Professors has issued a statement applauding the University of Notre Dame’s president, the Rev. John I. Jenkins, for standing firm in his decision to invite President Barack Obama as this year’s commencement speaker.

AAUP praises Jenkins "for exemplifying by his actions the words of his predecessor, Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, who stated unequivocally that ‘the Catholic university must have true autonomy and academic freedom in the face of authority of whatever kind, lay or clerical, external to the academic community itself,’ " the statement reads.

"The opportunity to be confronted with diverse opinions is at the core of academic freedom, which is vital to a free society and a quality education. The AAUP will continue to work to ensure such academic freedom," according to the statement.

The statement notes a number of incidents in recent weeks of groups trying to prevent various speakers from addressing campus audiences, including biologist Richard Dawkins, education professor William Ayers, political scientist Norman Finkelstein and Nobel laureate Bishop Desmond Tutu.

Read the full statement, entitled "Statement on Outside Speakers," at: http://www.aaup.org/AAUP/newsroom/2009PRS/outsidespeak423.htm.

The statement was issued Thursday by Gary Rhoades, general secretary of AAUP, who heads the organization’s national staff in Washington, D.C. He previously was a professor of higher education and director of the Center for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Arizona.

AAUP, a nonprofit organization that promotes academic freedom, has more than 48,000 members at colleges and universities throughout the United States.