Academic Freedom

From The King’s College Statement on Academic Freedom (Adapted from the 2015 Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression of the University of Chicago)

Because The King’s College is committed to free and open inquiry, it guarantees all members of The King’s College community the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn. Except insofar as limitations on that freedom are necessary to the functioning of The King’s College, including its Christian mission as expressed in its Statement of Faith (affirmed by faculty and staff), the King’s College fully respects and supports the freedom of all members of the College community “to discuss any problem that presents itself.”

Of course, the ideas of different members of The King’s College community will often and quite naturally conflict. But it is not the proper role of The King’s College to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions simply because they find them unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive. The King’s College greatly values civility, and all members of The King’s College community share in the responsibility for maintaining a climate of mutual respect. Within this framework, we do not wish to limit discussion of ideas, however offensive or disagreeable those ideas may be to some members of our community.

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 King’s College 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 King’s College, including its Christian mission as expressed in its Statement of Faith. In addition, The King’s College may reasonably regulate the time, place, and manner of expression to ensure that it does not disrupt the ordinary activities of The King’s College. But these are narrow exceptions to the general principle of freedom of expression, and it is vitally important that these exceptions never be used in a manner that is inconsistent with The King’s College’s commitment to a free and open discussion of ideas.

In a word, The King’s College’s fundamental commitment is to the principle that debate or deliberation may not be suppressed simply because the ideas put forth are thought by some or even by most members of The King’s College community to be offensive, unwise, immoral, or wrong-headed. Except in cases dictated by its institutional commitment to the College’s Statement of Faith, it is for the individual members of The King’s College community, not for The King’s College as an institution, to make those judgments for themselves, and to act on those judgments not by seeking to suppress speech, but by openly and vigorously contesting the ideas that they oppose. Indeed, fostering the ability of members of The King’s College community to engage in such debate and deliberation in an effective and responsible manner is an essential part of The King’s College’s educational mission.

As a corollary to The King’s College’s commitment to protect and promote free expression, members of The King’s College community must also act in conformity with the principle of free expression. Although members of The King’s College community are free to criticize and contest the views expressed on campus, and to criticize and contest speakers who are invited to express their views on campus, they may not obstruct or otherwise interfere with the freedom of others to express views they reject or even loathe. To this end, The King’s College has a solemn responsibility not only to promote a lively and fearless freedom of debate and deliberation, but also to protect that freedom when others attempt to restrict it.