Free Inquiry: A Campus Conversation

One of the most rewarding parts of being on a university campus like ours is the opportunity to learn, no matter your role. In the two years (and a bit more) since I arrived, my most joyous moments have been those that allow me to stay curious – whether learning about the history of Indiana Avenue and its connections to our campus, learning about forensics, or learning about new ways to reimagine the humanities (thanks to the School of Liberal Arts for hosting Professor Hayot from Penn State University to share ideas on that topic).

Last week offered yet another learning opportunity at the Chicago Principles (CP) webinar led by Professor Steve Sanders (IUB Maurer School of Law). He shared a succinct and useful overview of the CP and their relevance to IU, which has now formally adopted them following approval by the IU Board of Trustees (BoT). The webinar was followed by an engaging discussion with a panel of stakeholders from across our campuses. Our thanks to Professors Susan Popham (IU Southeast and UFC co-chair), Bill Ramos (IUB and UFC Co-chair), Steven Gerencser (IU South Bend), William Potter (IU Indianapolis), and Diane Kathryn Dallis-Comentale (IUB- Librarian) who participated in this conversation.

The CP state the following:

Because the University is committed to free and open inquiry in all matters, it guarantees all members of the University community the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn.

Furthermore, they point out that:

The freedom to debate and discuss the merits of competing ideas does not, of course, mean that individuals may say whatever they wish, wherever they wish. The University may restrict expression that violates the law, that falsely defames a specific individual, that constitutes a genuine threat or harassment, that unjustifiably invades substantial privacy or confidentiality interests, or that is otherwise directly incompatible with the functioning of the University. In addition, the University may reasonably regulate the time, place, and manner of expression to ensure that it does not disrupt the ordinary activities of the University.

The foundational principle of the CP is stated in the Kalven Report, published in 1967:

The university is the home and sponsor of critics; it is not itself the critic.

The webinar and discussion focused on ways to help faculty, staff, and students better understand the CP, including the role of libraries, the Library Bill of Rights, and future programming.

One question raised during the webinar asked: How do the CP impact SEA 202?

SEA 202 is about fostering a culture of free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity on our campuses by incorporating multiple, divergent, and varied scholarly perspectives on an extensive range of public policy issues. It promotes the exposure of students to scholarly works from a variety of political and ideological frameworks existing within and applicable to each faculty member’s academic discipline and encourages faculty to focus on the academic discipline and assigned course of instruction during teaching. It also requires state universities to provide programming for new students on the importance of free inquiry and free expression as well as intellectual diversity of viewpoints.

Importantly, a provision in the Indiana Code (IC 21-39.5-4), resulting from SEA 202, specifies that nothing in the article may:

Limit or restrict the academic freedom of faculty members or prevent faculty members from teaching, researching, or writing publications about diversity, equity, and inclusion or other topics.

For these reasons, SEA 202 does not conflict with the CP. As Professor Sanders noted during the webinar, the CP addresses institutional, not individual, neutrality. As the IU Taskforce on Chicago Principles notes:

The Principles “guarantee all members of the University community” – faculty, staff, students, and guests – “the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn.” (We understand this guarantee to extend to artistic creation and expression as well). The Principles also hold that members of the campus community may not “obstruct or otherwise interfere with the freedom of others to express views they reject or even loathe.”

In short, faculty are free to express perspectives grounded in their research and scholarship, provided they do not prevent others from expressing differing viewpoints.

I encourage everyone to view the IU website for resources that explain what the CP mean for each of us, particularly in relation to teaching, research, and service.

As always, I look forward to hearing from you.

Go Jags!

Latha Ramchand
Chancellor