More schools starting to follow Univ. of Chicago's policy on free speech

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FIRE is seeing an encouraging uptick in pro-free speech statements by college administrators early in this academic year. In just a few weeks’ time, administrators at schools like Columbia University, Brown University, and Claremont Mckenna College (CMC) have all made public statements committing to protect freedom of expression on campus.

The catalyst for this recent batch of speech-friendly statements seems to be the “academic freedom letter” the University of Chicago (UChicago) sent to incoming students last month, advising them not to expect “intellectual ‘safe spaces’” when they arrive on campus. The letter was widely reported on, and reignited the national debate over campus speech restrictions. It also seems to have resonated with many other college administrators.

Earlier this week, we reported that Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger made censorship the theme of his remarks to incoming students. Bollinger said that while he considered issues surrounding free speech to be “highly, highly complicated,” he was also resolute on some points.

“We don’t ban speech. We don’t censor speech,” Bollinger said, calling on students to use the power of free speech to effect change on campus.

“To say we can’t ban speech is easy. To say what follows next, is hard,” Bollinger observed. “There is the point: How you grapple with ideas, with thoughts, and viewpoints, and the myriad of ways available to you, will determine who you are.”

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Many schools have also been ahead of this latest curve. This spring, the president of Wake Forest University included a pro-speech note in the school’s alumni magazine. And as we’ve covered here extensively at FIRE, universities like Purdue University, UChicago, and the 28 schools receiving FIRE’s, highest “green light” rating have all made great strides toward ensuring expressive rights are protected on their campuses—even when those efforts were met with resistance or were unpopular.

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