COGR Joins Over 90 Associations on Free and Open Academic Inquiry Statement

The document is a joint statement issued on March 3, 2022, by a broad coalition of higher education associations and organizations representing diverse American colleges and universities. It emphasizes the centrality of free and open academic inquiry, debate, and civil discourse to the vitality of democracy and national well-being. The statement expresses concern over the growing trend of political interference in academic settings, particularly legislative efforts to restrict which topics can be discussed or studied. Such actions, the signatories argue, contradict the foundational principles of free speech and undermine the purpose of higher education, which is to foster critical examination of complex, sometimes controversial, issues. While acknowledging that certain forms of speech—such as those inciting violence or defamation—are not protected, the document stresses that, in general, campus discourse should be robust, inclusive, and respectful, and that censorship based on viewpoint is fundamentally at odds with the values of a free society. The statement concludes with a call for continued, unwavering commitment from both educational institutions and government to protect the open exchange of ideas essential for the nation’s civic health, economic strength, and global competitiveness.