Search Results for: Kalven

University of Chicago’s Kalven Report on free speech featured and defended in Wall Street Journal op-ed

All over the U.S., colleges and universities are falling over each other to make flaunt the most virtue by posting official statements about politics and ideology, now about Ukraine and, when that settles down, back to statements about ethnicity and politics. All, that is, except the University of Chicago, which is unique in having a … Continue reading University of Chicago’s Kalven Report on free speech featured and defended in Wall Street Journal op-ed

Princeton University violates the Kalven Report (even though it doesn’t have one)

The article below is from the conservative National Review, but of course if you want to find out what’s going on with colleges and universities, especially vis-à-vis free speech and academic freedom, you have to look at right-wing sources. This is not to imply that the Right doesn’t censor or suppress speech, but since most … Continue reading Princeton University violates the Kalven Report (even though it doesn’t have one)

A plea for “institutional neutrality” from Princeton

As I’ve written several times, one of the foundational principles of the University of Chicago—institutional neutrality on political or ideological issues—is embodied in the Kalven Report of 1967. The report, which has become a stated policy of the University, is that no unit of our University, be it the administration, departments, or official units, can … Continue reading A plea for “institutional neutrality” from Princeton

On University administrators and departments making political, ideological, or moral statements

At the University of Chicago we have a policy, based on the 1967 Kalven Report, that prohibits official units of the university from making moral, political, or ideological statements—unless those statements are about issues that directly affect the mission of the University. This includes university departments. The purpose is to promote freedom of speech by … Continue reading On University administrators and departments making political, ideological, or moral statements

Vanderbilt’s Chancellor sticks up for institutional neutrality

To me it makes eminent sense for a university to maintain a position of institutional neutrality—that is, to avoid taking public stands on moral, ideological, and political issues.  By taking such stands, the University, which is supposed to be a place where questioning and free speech are encouraged, chills the speech of its members. What … Continue reading Vanderbilt’s Chancellor sticks up for institutional neutrality

The University of California system issues an official critique of the Dobbs decision, chilling speech of those who disagree

I happen to be one of those who favored the Roe v. Wade decision; in fact, I’d go farther than the judges in that one by extending the term limits for abortion. Ergo, I think that Dobbs was a bad decision and that some way must be found around it. All American women who want … Continue reading The University of California system issues an official critique of the Dobbs decision, chilling speech of those who disagree

UNC Chapel Hill swears it won’t chill speech, but violates its own principles

Many colleges and universities in America have adopted free-speech policies, with more than 80 adhering to some version of the University of Chicago’s liberal Principles of Free Expression. It would be great if more schools could sign onto that, but what’s disturbing is that of all the institutions in higher education in America, only one—the … Continue reading UNC Chapel Hill swears it won’t chill speech, but violates its own principles

UNC adopts both of Chicago’s free-speech principles

I am informed that the Board of Trustees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has adopted both the Chicago Free Speech Principles, and the Kalven Principles that undergird free speech at the University of Chicago. The former guarantees the freest speech of any American university;  the latter ensures that no units of … Continue reading UNC adopts both of Chicago’s free-speech principles

Atlantic article on why universities shouldn’t make official political or ideological statements

I swear, maybe I should try writing some of my website posts as articles for magazines, where I could actually get paid.  It’s not that I need the dosh, but getting a check is a special form of love in return for one’s words.  Don’t worry, though, I’ll never monetize this site. The reason I thought … Continue reading Atlantic article on why universities shouldn’t make official political or ideological statements

Quote of the week: “A university is not a kindergarten. . . “

Yesterday someone called this quote to my attention; it seems to have been made in 1961  [1935; see comment #12 below] by Robert Maynard Hutchins (1899-1977), who became President of the University of Chicago at only 30 and served for 16 years, adding an additional six years as Chancellor. Here’s the Quote of the Week, … Continue reading Quote of the week: “A university is not a kindergarten. . . “