Dear President Davis (June 2026)
Will Furman's Next President Execute the Core Mission of the University?
June 10, 2026
President Elizabeth Davis
Furman University
3300 Poinsette Highway
Greenville, SC 29613
Dear Elizabeth,
Your trusty correspondent is going to take a break until August. (I know this comes as a huge disappointment.) I will return in August with news of FFSA’s program for the 2026-2027 academic year and further reflections on the challenge of campus viewpoint diversity, among other thorny issues.
But the FFSA will have a very active summer as we concentrate on the Presidential Selection process. And so, I leave you with the major question we will be asking: Will the process enhance or undermine the chances of selecting a president who can execute the core mission of a university: the pursuit of truth sustained by freedom of inquiry and respect for the diverse ideas that arise from the pursuit of truth? All other considerations are footnotes to this core criteria. And while we will be relentless in our advocacy for alumni involvement and transparency on Furman’s part, we will never lose sight of the university’s core mission.
Very soon, FFSA will have a great deal to say on this matter. Stay tuned and have a good summer.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Salmon
President
Furman Free Speech Alliance