The Furman Free Speech Round Up (June)
For Paladins and Friends
Intro:
Welcome to our June newsletter. It is the first Monday of the month, which means it is time for another Round Up. We’re glad you’ve found us.
The Furman Free Speech Alliance is a rapidly growing group of alumni, parents, and friends who are concerned about Furman University’s deteriorating campus climate for free speech, academic freedom, and viewpoint diversity.
Each month, we update you on what’s happening on the ground at Furman and what actions we’re taking to defend free speech on campus.
Looking Back:
The class of ‘24 celebrated their graduation from Furman University on May 4. Amid the festivities, U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen ‘00 gave an exceptional commencement address.
Specifically, Cullen stressed the importance of free speech at Furman, saying:
Furman benefits when its students reflect a wide and diverse range of opinions, so long as everyone has a full and fair opportunity to have her say. At the end of the day, your viewpoint diversity, and willingness to be tolerant and respectful of those who hold different views, have made Furman stronger.
This is admirable. At a time when many colleges — including Furman — have placed a tremendous emphasis on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Cullen reminded the class of ‘24 and Furman’s administrators that our differences are only useful “so long” as they lead us to discourse.
He also highlighted the progress that Furman is making:
I am enormously proud of Furman for formally recommitting to this core principle through its recent adoption of the Statement of Freedom of Inquiry and Expression and the On Discourse initiative. Whether you realize it or not, these free-speech initiatives are critical to the mission of this university, and you should be proud to have played a role in bringing them about.
He’s absolutely right. And as a member of the Furman Free Speech Alliance, you should be proud, too. Thanks to your support, we’re applying pressure on Furman to not only adopt new free speech statements but to do the hard work necessary to improve the dismal climate for free speech on campus. Inviting a commencement speaker like Thomas Cullen is one more step in the right direction.
One Stat You Should Know:
48% of Furman students report that they self-censor at least occasionally, including 40% percent of Republicans.
Looking Ahead:
This month, Furman’s Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement is asking for feedback. The university has partnered with the consulting firm BWF to conduct a survey in hopes of gaining “a better understanding of your desired involvement with and interest in supporting the university.”
In other words, Furman’s Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement has put together a fancy survey to ask the same question it always asks: Do you want to give Furman money?
If you’re like us, you’re probably tired of only hearing from Furman when they need your hard-earned cash. You’d like to know more about what’s happening on campus, for example.
Well, there’s a simple reason why the administration doesn’t share that: Because Furman today is radically different than it was even 10 years ago. Surveys from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) show as much. As do the experiences of students like Peter Paluszak, who was mobbed by other students for expressing his pro-life views.
The good news is, the Furman Free Speech Alliance is designed to do exactly what Furman’s Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement fails to do: Keep you in the know. We’re offering an alternative form of alumni engagement, and we want to build a network of Paladins around the country.
If you want to join us, consider giving us a follow on LinkedIn or Facebook, and subscribe to our Substack below.
In the Network:
On May 23, the UNC System Board of Governors repealed a five-year-old policy that mandated diversity, equity and inclusion offices on each of its 17 campuses. This is a huge win for our friends at the UNC Free Speech Alliance. The university system currently spends almost $100 million per year on DEI staff. You should read their letter on the board’s decision here.