CARBONDALE - A new blog aimed at being a "watchdog site to keep (Southern Illinois University Carbondale) honest" has been launched in cyberspace.

Jonathan Bean, an SIUC history professor and president of the Illinois Association of Scholars, and several others recently launched FreeSIU to provide information and commentary on issues regarding the university community.

"At SIU, when it comes to issues of diversity and civil rights, we're hearing the sound of one hand clapping," Bean said. "The people in power are speaking to themselves."

A focal point of the blog's content right now is the issue of sexual harassment on campus. Revisions to the university's sexual harassment policy are circulating the university's constituency groups and coming under fire from outside sources.

Situations involving John Y. Simon, a history professor who was being investigated on charges of sexual harassment at the time of his death in July, and Cal Meyers, a retired chemistry professor barred from campus on similar charges, have brought much attention to the policy.

Blog contributors, including professors, lawyers, students, recent graduates, businessmen and others "who are concerned about SIU," will submit entries to the site, Bean said. These opinions will come in addition to ones from the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Association of Scholars and Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, he said.

University spokesman Rod Sievers said Friday university administrators won't debate Bean.

"Professor Bean, like anybody else, is free to express his opinions on these issues or any others," he said.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com / 351-5031