The January 17th edition of the Chicago Maroon contains this statement by the University’s President:
It is President Alivastos’s strongest statement to date on the importance and centrality of free speech at the University of Chicago. There was no balancing of that value against competing values, no “but” to take account of “harms” or to caution civility. What is required, however, is listening as well as talking: “I have shared that, in my experience, every class, lecture, extracurricular activity, and informal discussion also has within it the possibility of being that special moment when we unlock the ability to see some aspect of the world in a new way. We are only able to access that possibility if we have the willingness to engage with others across differences. This requires truly listening to the perspectives of others, and, in turn, being open to sharing our own perspective. This kind of practice is the strongest possible defence of free expression.”
The statement also contained quite a blunt warning: “I am committed to protecting free expression whenever there are efforts to quash it.” There are to be no disruptions of speakers duly invited to the campus, “however controversial they may be… our civil polity has the tools to prosecute those who issue threats of violence, which all too often arise from the fray of heated discourse. Such actions cannot be minimized or ignored, and the University will work with law enforcement when applicable.”
Finally, the President signalled that he has something up his sleeve for the future of the Chicago Principles in the greater world: “At current count, more than 90 universities have adopted or endorsed the Chicago Principles, and in the coming months, I will be reporting more on how we expand our efforts to advance freedom of expression beyond the University.”
I will be watching all this with great interest. Clearly the President, now that he is settled back in to his old alma mater and no doubt with the backing of the trustees, is doubling down on what has long been a feature, one might even say a “brand,” at this University. Of course, there will be plenty of debate and much pushback. Words, arguments, possibly even some choice zingers, will fly thickly through the air… but everyone will have a say, no one will be shut down. Life will be unrolling as it should at the University of Chicago.
