Recent events—nationwide and on college campuses alike—have
too often pitted values of diversity, inclusion, and freedom of expression
against each other, when in fact they should be mutually reinforcing. While
college students believe in the principles of the First Amendment, many are
willing to entertain restrictions when they see conflicts with other values and
beliefs. Caught in the crosshairs are university leaders who want to do right
by their communities such that all voices are heard, without letting deep
divisions negatively affect the student experience, compromise the learning
environment, or restrict speech.
ACE's work in this space is three-fold, as we seek to:
- provide a platform for higher education leaders to exchange
ideas and best practices to build awareness and understanding of the
opportunities and challenges in balancing free expression and campus inclusion.
- create an environment in which college presidents and other
stakeholders can work together to build an ecosystem where inclusion and
freedom of expression are complementary, rather than adversarial.
-
shift
from conversation to action, ultimately empowering presidents and others to
make meaning of the current environment and to create positive change on behalf
of their students, their campuses, and their surrounding communities.