As in many college departments, intellectual independence is a theme at Columbia's Department of Middle East and Asian Languages and Cultures.

An office door is decorated with a sticker that reads "Subvert the dominant paradigm," and the topics of faculty-authored books on display range from Iranian cinema to Israeli literature. But some academics worry this independence may be at risk as legislation increasing oversight of international studies programs makes its way through Congress.

The bill, called the International Studies Higher Education Act (HR 3077), reauthorizes about $80 million in funding for international and foreign language study, but with a twist - now the government would allocate more resources to programs that emphasize national security.

Proponents of the bill say that the reauthorization is routine and the new focus is key to enhancing government intelligence capabilities. But academics are up in arms over what they see as possible infringement on academic freedom.

"I feel that it is a very dangerous precedent to get any intellectual enterprise under supervision by any ideological or government agency," says Professor George Saliba, Director of Graduate Studies at Columbia's MEALAC. "No matter how well-meaning and patriotic and benign and all of that, it inevitably will have repercussions on the freedom of speech, on the free flow of information, and on the way research is done."

If approved, the bill could have significant impact on international studies. Programs that do not prepare students for careers in national security would clearly be disadvantaged in the competition for federal funding.

The language of the bill is vague, however, when it comes to assessing the importance of different departments.

Some argue that those producing the largest number of students going into security-related professions would - and should - be favored. But others are concerned that the views of professors might also be weighed, allowing the government to cut off funding to departments that voice disagreement with its policies.

Critics worry that this could ultimately create a form of post-9/11 McCarthyism, endangering the atmosphere of critical thought that universities make possible.

Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R) of Michigan, who authored the bill as Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Select Education, says the bill has been misinterpreted. And now, in spite of its unanimous approval by the House last October, growing criticism may slow its progress through the Senate.

The bill is part of a larger renewal of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which is done every five to six years. Under Title VI, the program offers competitive grants averaging about $250,000 to area studies programs at schools like Columbia, Brigham Young, Georgetown, and Michigan State University, with many receiving multiple awards. Mr. Hoekstra's changes would let the government keep closer track of how this money is being spent.

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