Skip to content
ADVERTISEMENT
Sign In
  • Sections
    • News
    • Advice
    • The Review
  • Topics
    • Data
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
    • Finance & Operations
    • International
    • Leadership & Governance
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Scholarship & Research
    • Student Success
    • Technology
    • Transitions
    • The Workplace
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Special Issues
    • Podcast: College Matters from The Chronicle
  • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle On-The-Road
    • Professional Development
  • Ask Chron
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Professional Development
    • Career Resources
    • Virtual Career Fair
  • More
  • Sections
    • News
    • Advice
    • The Review
  • Topics
    • Data
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
    • Finance & Operations
    • International
    • Leadership & Governance
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Scholarship & Research
    • Student Success
    • Technology
    • Transitions
    • The Workplace
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Special Issues
    • Podcast: College Matters from The Chronicle
  • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle On-The-Road
    • Professional Development
  • Ask Chron
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Professional Development
    • Career Resources
    • Virtual Career Fair
    Upcoming Events:
    College Advising
    Serving Higher Ed
    Chronicle Festival 2025
Sign In
Academic Freedom

What Lies Ahead in the Campus-Speech Wars?

Experts discuss the challenges they see on the horizon — and what colleges can do about them

By Julia Schmalz September 13, 2017
 What Lies Ahead in the Campus-Speech Wars?
Play Now

College campuses have become free-speech battlegrounds — places where students spar over polarizing speakers, outside demonstrators stoke violence, and professors draw intense fire for offering provocative opinions. What should administrators with Middlebury, Berkeley, or Charlottesville on their minds expect in the coming academic year? How can they meet the challenges of promoting free expression while keeping their campuses secure?

To continue reading for FREE, please sign in.

Sign In

Or subscribe now to read with unlimited access for as low as $10/month.

Don’t have an account? Sign up now.

A free account provides you access to a limited number of free articles each month, plus newsletters, job postings, salary data, and exclusive store discounts.

Sign Up

 What Lies Ahead in the Campus-Speech Wars?
Play Now

College campuses have become free-speech battlegrounds — places where students spar over polarizing speakers, outside demonstrators stoke violence, and professors draw intense fire for offering provocative opinions. What should administrators with Middlebury, Berkeley, or Charlottesville on their minds expect in the coming academic year? How can they meet the challenges of promoting free expression while keeping their campuses secure?

The Chronicle asked a group of experts on the First Amendment, academic freedom, and higher education to weigh in. The experts, listed here in the order of their appearance, discuss the trends they see developing and the actions colleges and universities can consider to meet challenges head-on.

  • Catherine J. Ross, a law professor at George Washington University.
  • Cynthia Miller-Idriss, an associate professor of education and sociology at American University.
  • Ibram X. Kendi, a professor of history and international relations at American University, and director of the Anti-Racist Research and Policy Center.
  • Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity Washington University.
  • Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
  • Henry F. (Hank) Reichman, chairman of the American Association of University Professors’ Committee A on Academic Freedom.
  • Peter Lake, a law professor at Stetson University, and director for the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy.

Julia Schmalz is a senior multimedia producer. She tells stories with photos, audio, and video. Follow her on Twitter @jschmalz09, or email her at julia.schmalz@chronicle.com

Download
  • Dealing With Controversial Speakers on Campus
Read other items in Chronicle Films.
We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
Tags
Free Speech Academic Freedom
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Email
Julia Schmalz, senior multimedia producer
About the Author
Julia Schmalz
Julia Schmalz is a senior multimedia producer. She tells stories with photos, audio, and video. Follow her on Twitter @jschmalz09.

Related Content

Dealing With Controversial Speakers on Campus
University Leaders Should Plan for Another Year of Campus-Speech Protests. Here’s How.
An Anti-Hate Group Has This Advice for When the Alt-Right Comes to Campus

More News

Protesters attend a demonstration in support of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, March 10, 2025, in New York.
First Amendment Rights
Noncitizen Professors Testify About Chilling Effect of Others’ Detentions
Photo-based illustration of a rock preciously suspended by a rope over three beakers.
Broken Promise
U.S. Policy Made America’s Research Engine the Envy of the World. One President Could End That.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Tucson, Arizona—Doctor Andrew Capaldi poses for a portrait at his lab at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. CREDIT: Ash Ponders for Chronicle
Capaldi Lab—
Research Expenses
What Does It Cost to Run a Lab?
Research illustration Microscope
Dreams Deferred
How Trump’s Cuts to Science Funding Are Derailing Young Scholars’ Careers

From The Review

University of Virginia President Jim Ryan keeps his emotions in check during a news conference, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 in Charlottesville. Va. Authorities say three people have been killed and two others were wounded in a shooting at the University of Virginia and a student is in custody. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
The Review | Opinion
Jim Ryan’s Resignation Is a Warning
By Robert Zaretsky
Photo-based illustration depicting a close-up image of a mouth of a young woman with the letter A over the lips and grades in the background
The Review | Opinion
When Students Want You to Change Their Grades
By James K. Beggan
Photo-based illustration of a student and a professor, each occupying a red circle in a landscape of scribbles.
The Review | Opinion
Meet Students Where They Are? Maybe Not.
By Mark Horowitz

Upcoming Events

Chronfest25_Virtual-Events_Page_862x574.png
Chronicle Festival: Innovation Amid Uncertainty
07-16-Advising-InsideTrack - forum assets v1_Plain.png
The Evolving Work of College Advising
Lead With Insight
  • Explore Content
    • Latest News
    • Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Professional Development
    • Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Chronicle Intelligence
    • Jobs in Higher Education
    • Post a Job
  • Know The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Vision, Mission, Values
    • DEI at The Chronicle
    • Write for Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • Our Reporting Process
    • Advertise With Us
    • Brand Studio
    • Accessibility Statement
  • Account and Access
    • Manage Your Account
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Group and Institutional Access
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
  • Get Support
    • Contact Us
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • User Agreement
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2025 The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education is academe’s most trusted resource for independent journalism, career development, and forward-looking intelligence. Our readers lead, teach, learn, and innovate with insights from The Chronicle.
Follow Us
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • facebook
  • linkedin