Dear OU Community,
The freedom to speak, inquire, and express freely not only forms the bedrock of American democracy, it strikes at the heart of any great institution of higher learning. These First Amendment rights are inseparable from our University’s mission as a scholarly community, which is why each year at the University of Oklahoma we make a point to recognize Free Speech Week.
This national observance of First Amendment freedoms provides a time to reaffirm the importance of our constitutional rights and to appreciate their fundamental role in our academic and research community. I’m very proud that three years ago, the OU Board of Regents formally adopted the Chicago Statement on Freedom of Expression, an affirmation that these values will always be a cornerstone of our university’s pursuit of excellence.
Today’s social and political divides can, at times, cause us to lose sight of what we have in common – that is our humanity, our communities, and our desire to better the world around us. At OU, we strive to demonstrate that our differences don’t have to divide us, and that if we desire to remain committed to preparing future generations of leaders, we must also be a place of vibrant, constructive discourse.
OU must remain a place where free speech flourishes and hate has no home. In that spirit, I encourage you to attend our Free Speech Week keynote discussion on Tuesday afternoon with Wilfred M. McClay, the Victor Davis Hanson Chair in Classical History and Western Civilization at Hillsdale College, who will speak on “Speech as a Middle Ground.” You can learn more about this and other events, including additional discussions and an exhibit, at ou.edu/freespeechweek.
Live On, University,
Joseph Harroz, Jr.
President
