Freedom Of Expression

Vanderbilt's commitment to freedom of expression and civil discourse is inseparable from its collaborative spirit. It is at the heart of the Vanderbilt community. None of the transformative learning and discovery that we cherish as an institution of higher education can happen without it. At Vanderbilt, “unexpected collaborations” will always lead to great things. It is a function of who we are; it is, quintessentially, this community. Read More

The first debate, 'Vanderbilt Insight Debate on Institutional Neutrality,' will be held on Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. in the Seigenthaler Center Forum Room. The topic will delve into whether Vanderbilt should maintain its policy of institutional neutrality. Registration using your Vanderbilt email address is required to attend. Read More

First-year students at Vanderbilt spent their first Monday afternoon on campus with Chancellor Daniel Diermeier discussing the importance of free expression at Vanderbilt and how to engage in civil discourse. Read More

Chancellor Daniel Diermeier has joined a group of university presidents leading diverse institutions from across the country in a new initiative to address civic engagement and promote civil discourse on college campuses and beyond. The College Presidents for Civic Preparedness, a new initiative convened by The Institute for Citizens and Scholars, aims to leverage collective wisdom and collaborative strategies to cultivate a new generation of empowered, democratic-minded citizens.    Read More

Findings from the Vanderbilt Project on Unity & American Democracy's third quarterly poll show that only one-fifth of Americans believe that everyday citizens are united when it comes to the most pressing issues facing the country, and less than two-fifths believe that Americans are likely to unite in the future. While there is not a lot of optimism about unity in the country, there is agreement on the high value of freedom of speech and expression. Read More

Maria Ressa, an internationally acclaimed journalist who was awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for exposing government corruption and human rights violations in her native Philippines and for defending free and accurate speech worldwide, called on the Vanderbilt Class of 2023 to seek truth and facts despite the “toxic sludge” of misinformation manipulating social media. Read More

A team of students from Vanderbilt University competed against many of the top debate teams in the nation at the recent European Union-sponsored Schuman Challenge, an annual foreign affairs contest for undergraduate students in the U.S. It provides competitors a chance to present and defend transatlantic policy recommendations in front of a panel of judges.   Read More

Justitia, an independent and nonpartisan think tank based in Copenhagen, Denmark, has opened its first U.S. location at Vanderbilt University. The expansion of the "The Future of Free Speech" project, led by Justitia CEO Jacob Mchangama, aims to advance the global culture of free speech. Read More

Maria A. Ressa, an internationally acclaimed journalist who has endured political threats and government arrests for her commitment to truth and democracy, will receive Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal when she speaks to the university’s graduating students and their families during 2023 Commencement activities. Read More

The University of Mississippi teamed with Vanderbilt to host a debate exhibition on Feb. 3. The free event, part of an effort to increase civic engagement on Vanderbilt’s campus, drew an audience from the higher ed and Nashville communities.  Read More

Vanderbilt University invites the Nashville and campus communities to an exhibition on Friday, Feb. 3, designed to introduce the craft of debate to new audiences while exploring a timely topic. Read More

With consequential midterm elections less than one month away, the Vanderbilt University Debate Team will host an intercollegiate debate this weekend on how to improve U.S. election processes and boost voter turnout. The event will be on Saturday, Oct. 15, at The Commons Center Multipurpose Room. Read More

Academic experts and university leaders came together with the VUcept peer mentor group for a candid conversation about freedom of expression on Aug. 22. The discussion centered on the importance of open discourse in providing the necessary conditions for transformative education and pathbreaking research. Read More

Chancellor Daniel Diermeier participated in a conversation titled “The Path Forward for Academic Freedom in Higher Ed” as part of the world-renowned Aspen Ideas Festival on June 29. The panel set out to explore the “twin ideals of open inquiry and free expression” as well as higher education’s unique role in advancing these forces. Read More

Vanderbilt has updated its Freedom of Expression policy—a vital part of the university’s commitment to open discourse, discovery and learning—to strengthen civil and respectful discussion and debate of challenging ideas and beliefs among the campus community. The revised policy and guidelines also clarify the university’s policy on various forms of free expression such as demonstrations, dissents and protests. Read More