The University of Michigan Board of Trustees on Tuesday unanimously approved a new statement on freedom of expression during a special meeting, with President Santa Ono calling it a historic vote and saying “coming together” is more important than ever.
“No matter what problems we face today, it is important that we remain fully committed to freedom of expression and diversity of thought,” Ono said before the board’s vote. “In this time of great division, it is more important than ever that we come together in a shared commitment to pluralism, mutual respect, freedom of expression, and diversity of thought.”
Approval of the statement came after a period of public feedback and comments on the updated principles drafted by university faculty and officials, who said the principles reaffirm the university's commitment to freedom of expression and diversity of thought. The last time the university agreed to such a statement was 1988.
UCLA Regent Mark Bernstein called the principles “the university’s north star that sits next to our mission statement.”
“These principles unequivocally declare that cancel culture is dead at the University of Michigan,” said Mark Bernstein, a Democrat and attorney. “We are a public university with a long and proud history of strong engagement on issues of significant social consequence and, in fact, actively confront the most controversial issues, a hallmark of our culture that we fully embrace.”
Trustee Ron Weiser, a Republican, highlighted three sentences in the statement, including that the university stimulates and supports diverse ideas and viewpoints, which he said is especially important to him as governor.
“It's really important to realize that the goal of the university is to talk to each other and understand that there will be differences of opinion and viewpoints on many topics,” Weiser said. “But stopping the conversation and not having those discussions is what leads to conflict.”
“Freedom of expression is at our core,” Democratic Trustee Dennis Ilitch added.
Trustee President Sarah Hubbard noted a passage in the statement that says UM strives “to meet conflict and controversy with understanding and reason to refute our opponents rather than rescind invitations or deny them a platform and to challenge their ideas rather than attack their character.”
“And to reiterate what Trustee Bernstein said, we're not in the business of canceling speakers,” added Hubbard, a Republican. “We're in the business of encouraging balanced debate. That's the first step, and now we need to invite diverse thought.” Leaders come to our campuses in order to fulfill the promise of this Politics. I look forward to working with everyone on it.”
The draft statement approved by the board reflects feedback from faculty, staff, students and alumni, said Tim Lynch, university chancellor. Lynch also praised the contribution of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting the rights of expression.
“This is important in light of what we are discussing here today and the incidents we have seen at other universities related to free speech,” said Democratic Representative and Regent Attorney Jordan Acker. “It's not enough just to allow groups, unpopular groups, to speak on campus, but it's all of our duty as leaders across campus, whether you're in Ann Arbor; whether you're in Dearborn, Flint; whether you're a department chair, “Not just to have the positive right to allow speech, but to encourage it and make sure we continue to allow it.”
Acker, who is Jewish, continued, “Freedom of speech is not freedom of expression, until the last Nazi earned the right to speak with freedom of speech. It includes the right to learn and participate on campus, even on unpopular topics.”
“It also means that it has to be intertwined with that academic freedom. And so I agree with what's been said before and challenge my colleagues and all of us as leaders across campus to make sure that we continue to engage not just on freedom of expression, but also on academic freedom and freedom to learn, even if The issue or topic is unpopular.”
While emphasizing rights of expression, UM's board-approved letter principles say “not all ideas are of equal value.”
“Our deep commitment to freedom of expression does not extend to expression or conduct that violates the law or university policy, including targeted speech that involves bullying, defamation, destruction of property, harassment, violence, or threats.”
kkozlowski@detroitnews.com
