4 Reasons Universities Should Practice Institutional Neutrality
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December’s congressional hearing on campus antisemitism has, among its other effects, pushed the debate about institutional neutrality at universities further into the public sphere.
Institutional neutrality—the practice by universities and their leaders of not taking positions on political matters unconnected to the functioning of the university—is essential to creating the climate of free speech that is integral to a university’s purpose. The classic rationale for neutrality, put forth in the University of Chicago’s 1967 Kalven Report, is that when universities and their leaders take official positions, they chill debate and discussion by laying down a party line. The case the report makes is the first and best reason for institutional neutrality. But it’s not the only one.
Originally published: February 6, 2024
Author: Daniel Diermeier
Position: Chancellor
Institution: Vanderbilt University
Published by: Forbes