The University of Chicago is known for its commitment to free speech and academic freedom. Why are these values important to the university? Where do they originate? And how do they help administrators navigate conflicts and controversies?
Tony Banout and Tom Ginsburg direct the University of Chicago's Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression, which received a $100 million gift last year. They are also editors of "The Chicago Canon on Free Inquiry and Expression," a new book that collects foundational texts that inform the university's free speech tradition.
Enjoy listening to our podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack's paid subscriber podcast feed, please email sotospeak@thefire.org.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:31 Origin of book
07:14 UChicago's founding principles
12:41 Free speech in a university context
19:17 2015 UChicago committee report
32:03 1967 Kalven report
38:02 Institutional neutrality
57:41 Applying free speech principles beyond the university
01:04:21 Future steps for the Forum
01:06:35 Outro
Show notes:
- The University of Chicago's Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression (2015)
- Chicago Statement: University and Faculty Body Support (last updated 2024)