University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer’s legacy runs deep
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On Friday, the University of Chicago community bid farewell to its 13th president, Robert Zimmer, who died in May after a battle with brain cancer.
Zimmer is best known for his commitment to free expression. Shortly after he took office in 2006, he became increasingly convinced that this core value of the academy was being eroded as censorship replaced unfettered debate. He was particularly concerned with self-censorship, having seen how some faculty members and students would keep opinions and ideas to themselves rather than face backlash from vocal ideologues who might try to silence them.
Originally published: October 3, 2023
Author: Daniel Diermeier
Position: Chancellor
Institution: Vanderbilt University
Published by: The Chicago Tribune