Kalven Report Institutional Neutrality

George Porteous
Stanford Daily

Excerpt: In his first interview with The Daily since taking office as Stanford’s 13th president on Aug. 1, Jonathan Levin ’94 shared his top priorities and perspective on major issues facing the University, from policies regarding protests and free speech to labor negotiations.

Douglas Belkin
Wall Street Journal

Excerpt: Jewish students at Columbia University were threatened, attacked, shunned and harassed on campus last school year, and many faculty refused to believe their complaints or act to stop the problem, a new report said.

Johanna Alonso
Inside Higher Ed

Excerpt: The University of Texas system and its institutions are no longer permitted to “adopt positions based on political or social passions or pressures,” according to a new rule approved by the Board of Regents on Thursday, The Austin American-Statesman reported.

“Rooted in the Kalven Report from the University of Chicago, the policy reflects the principle that the institution’s role is not to take positions on political, social, or other matters unrelated to its operation but to uphold a community where students, faculty, and staff have the freedom to do so,” a system spokesperson told the American-Statesman.

Susan Svrluga
Washington Post

Excerpt: Columbia University is bracing for disruptive protests to resume as students arrive on campus this week, even as some hold out hope that the new administration will be able to broker peace. The days before the start of classes have been marked by restricted campus access, talk of giving campus security officers more clout and last-minute discussions about rules.

Many faculty, students and others have said they expect protests over the Israel-Gaza war to erupt with equal or greater intensity and predicted another chaotic year ahead.

Bret Stephens
New York Times

Excerpt: As college students return to campus, this is what I hope a university president might say to them about how their school intends to handle future protests.

Talia Barnes
Foundation for Individual Rights in Expression

Excerpt: In an August 14 letter to the campus community, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik announced her resignation after serving in the role for just over 13 months. She referred to “a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across our community” and “tension, division, and politicization” that has “disrupted our campus over the last year.”