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October 11, 2021

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Thomas Gallanis

The view, which I support, that universities and their subdivisions (e.g., colleges and departments) should not take official positions on social or political issues was nicely articulated in the University of Chicago's Kalven Report, published in 1967. The full text of the Kalven Report is available here: https://provost.uchicago.edu/reports/report-universitys-role-political-and-social-action

This view also was articulated by William Bowen of Princeton, who said: "The university as an institution must exercise a significant degree of institutional restraint if its individual members are to enjoy the maximum degree of freedom. … The absence of an institutional statement of ‘orthodoxy’ lessens the risk that faculty or students will be favored in some way—or will think that they may be favored—by taking the ‘right’ position on a controversial question."

anon

"It ought to be well-recognized that individual faculty members must be free to state controversial political views ..."

As stated, yes. Of course. This is still, almost, a free country where individuals may express their views without fear (sort of).

But, the point is likened to a post not so long ago about using the moniker "Judge" when opining, especially on matters having no legal content.

Professors should be mindful that taking harsh stances, especially on matters outside their expertise (sorry, JDs, you don't know everything about everything or even something about most things), can tend to chill the freedom of their students, tarnish their institution and work to demean others in a way that, these days, seems to be rarely tolerated by the left, except when used to demean their political enemies.

Perhaps a professor should make clear that he or she expresses personal views on political questions. In that instance, there really isn't much anyone should say to stifle that pure "free" speech.

twbb

"The university as an institution must exercise a significant degree of institutional restraint if its individual members are to enjoy the maximum degree of freedom"

What's the point of having the maximum degree of freedom if you're going to refrain from using it out of moral cowardice?

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