Princeton's Free Speech Initiative

I'm happy to announce the public launch of a new initiative at Princeton University. The Initiative on Freedom of Thought, Inquiry, and Expression will be under the umbrella of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. I'm grateful to JMP for hosting the initiative, and to Princeton University for giving its blessing to the project (though the initiative will rely on outside funds). I will be directing the Free Speech Initiative along with my colleague, Bernie Haykel.

We expect over time to host seminars, public lectures, conferences, and other programming to promote, explain and defend free speech and academic freedom. Hopefully we can help make a difference locally on the Princeton campus, and we intend to be a resource for students and faculty who have concerns about free speech protections at Princeton. But I hope over time that the initiative can help advance our understanding of free speech principles in the larger scholarly community and in our civic discourse. It is unfortunate that such an initiative seems necessary these days, but it is essential that the legacy of robust free speech principles be transmitted to the next generation.

Of course, I will continue to do my separate work as chair of the Academic Freedom Alliance.

Bernie and I talk about the new Free Speech Initiative on the latest episode of the Madison's Notes Podcast, which can be found here.

Comments

[Archibald Tuttle]

We wish you luck. It's needed.

[DaivdBehar]

Princeton should adopt the Chicago Principles, or lose all government support.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Princeton gives the clingers more respect and opportunity than they deserve.

[Cal Cetín]

The James Madison Program is *part* of Princeton, just as surely as is the Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies.

http://gss.princeton.edu/who-we-are

[Cal Cetín]

But only the Gender Studies Department is part of the *real* Princeton, any professor, or even component institution of the university, which isn't progressive is not the *true* Princeton.

[Queen Amalthea]

In no hurry to defend it, but I think the Rev's comment was that in having things like the JMP PU (I love it!) indulges the 'clingers' (JFK) too much.

[Cal Cetín]

Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies: Part of our strong liberal/libertarian tradition

James Madison Program: How did that clinger institution slip into the hallowed halls of Princeton?

[Queen Amalthea]

Again, I think there is some history there that the Rev's comment is playing on (iirc conservatives complained about some perceived liberal bias thing PU did and then PU created this conservative institute in what some perceive as placating the conservative critics).

[Cal Cetín]

I wonder how the Gender and Sexuality Studies Department got created? Were they perhaps placating anyone?

[Queen Amalthea]

I don't know if I've been confusing or not but my position is that, *contra Rev,* both are well and long accepted parts of PU (I defended George here). I don't know about the creation of GS (I bet you don't either), but, again, iirc the creation of the other was documented as a placation thing.

[Queen Amalthea]

Cal, a quick search indicates it could indeed be perceived as a placation:

"the idea of creating a women’s studies program at the University was a point of tension — there were student protests and a committee was created to consider the matter."

https://paw.princeton.edu/article/former-womens-studies-program-evolves-male-director

Note, too, that PU, founded in 1746, started to allow women undergrads in 1969.

[Cal Cetín]

Don't mind me, I'm continuing my digs at Artie, not at you.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Despite your ardent efforts, Cal Cetin, my ankles are unscathed.

[Cal Cetín]

I'm *defending* Princeton, and you're nipping their ankles.

Your fairy tale world, in which you so fervently believe, takes priority over reality.

A component part of Princeton is promoting free expression even for non-progressives. You don't like it; presumably you prefer lower-tier institutions like Evergreen where free speech isn't really a thing.

You want to denounce the policies of a successful liberal/libertarian Ivy League school.

[Queen Amalthea]

Authoritarian nutjob doesn't get the irony in his own authoritarian nutjob comment! In other news, Middle East peace talks break down!

[DaivdBehar]

Ironic remark by denier of the chromosomes in every human cell of his body, it's body, if that is the preferred pronoun.

My preferred pronoun? Fuck you is my preferred pronoun.

[Queen Amalthea]

You're a massive idiot and authoritarian nut job. I've told you before, I'm a guy with kids. It's just my handle. Keep trying autistic incel.

[grb]

You should give D.B. some credit. There was a long period of time when he was repeatedly the first person commenting on any given thread, over and over and over.

This was troubling way beyond the juvenile lunacy of the comments themselves; there had to have been a serious obsessive compulsive component behind that streak. I started to worry.

But since then he's mellowed into just another ordinary troll, something I see it as great progress. Another 10-15yrs and he may approach normalcy...

[Longtobefree]

I find it amazing, but not surprising, that reason find it newsworthy that a university acknowledges the US Constitution.

[gormadoc]

VC is hosted by Reason but it isn't actually part of it. The author of this post is publicizing something he is involved with because this is, more or less, a blog.

[Kazinski]

I think on campuses like Princeton their thought process is closer to this:

"Free speech is a misnomer. Once speech comes with a cost, then it's no longer free, and should be restricted."

Of course the weaker your own arguments, the less welcome opposing arguments are.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Princeton hired Robert George . . . and he, with other conservatives, inclines Princeton to regret it regularly.

[Cal Cetín]

Based on your reading of Robert George's works, which parts do you disagree with and why?

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Has he repented with respect to his gay-bashing?

[Cal Cetín]

Based on your reading of Robert George's works, which parts do you disagree with and why?

(I thought repentance was a fairy-tale religious clinger idea which nobody over the age of 12 ought to believe in)

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

After reading his attempts to defend superstition-laced bigotry with respect to gay citizens, I am disinclined to reach much more from him.

What kind of dope figures that bigotry is improved by being wrapped in childish superstition?

[Cal Cetín]

Explain why you disagree with Cornel West:

'Dr. Cornel West and Dr. Robert George, the “ideological odd couple,” discuss the importance of civil discourse in this era of polarization. Leftist West and conservative George are friends who teach together and travel the country to demonstrate their commitment to free speech. They explore their opposing views on several policy areas, respectfully disagreeing as well as finding common ground.'

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/firing-line/video/cornel-west-and-robert-george-mpaztt/

[Queen Amalthea]

Nah. I disagree with a lot of what George says, but he's a well recognized scholar and seems to be quite dedicated to civilized, academic debate including with those with whom he vehemently disagrees.

[Cal Cetín]

Well, in that case, I guess Kirkland should like him. /sarc

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

I tend to think little of bigots.

Others are welcome to embrace bigotry.

[Darth Chocolate]

I would be more worried about how Princeton is essentially forcing it's students to campus:

https://www.finopulse.com/princeton-bars-students-from-leaving-mercer-county-false-imprisonment/

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

False imprisonment? They are free to leave at any time, for any or no reason.

Just as Princeton is free to refrain from welcoming them back to associate with others on campus. They certainly would be welcome at the hundreds of conservative-controlled campuses -- but they might find that unattractive, because conservative schools are low-ranked, nonsense-teaching, censorship-shackled hayseed farms.

[Noscitur a sociis]

Indeed, the post admits as much:

Can universities be sued for false imprisonment when they quarantine their students? I doubt it.

After all, the detained student can always elect to drop out of school and leave the campus. And a genuine health emergency can sometimes justify draconian measures.

Which makes you wonder why someone bothered writing (or linking to) it.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Clingers gonna cling.

They don't have much else left.

[DaivdBehar]

Hey, Boomer. When are you leaving, you pest. You need to be replaced by a diverse.

[Queen Amalthea]

finopulse.com?

Good grief.

[Bob from Ohio]

"Princeton’s endowment is the fifth-largest in the country, with a value of $32.5 billion as of March 31, 2021."

Want free speech at Princeton, push to tax that endowment. Then they wil be more open to reason.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

If society elects to tax endowments, it should start with superstition rather than education.

[Jon Rowe]

Fantastic news. I look forward to the events.