Incoming class hears call to embrace Princeton’s ‘bold and powerful commitment’ to free expression

By Jamie Saxon, Office of Communications, Princeton University
(photo attribution: Princeton University)

Editor's Note: PFS commends Princeton and President Eisgruber for this year's orientation program on free speech. From our founding in 2020, PFS has argued that orientation should always include a robust discussion of free speech. In 2021, it didn't — the only mention of free speech that year was a faculty member's attack on the concept. Every year since, President Eisgruber has personally led a session on the subject. Two Princeton students, Abigail Anthony '23 and Myles McKnight '23, led the push to make that happen, and Myles gave an outstanding speech at the very first session. We're proud that both Abigail and Myles now serve on the PFS board.

President Christopher L. Eisgruber introduced transfer and first-year students to the University’s expansive commitment to academic freedom and free expression during his fifth annual Orientation session on the topic.  

At Tuesday’s event, he was joined for a wide-ranging conversation by Summer Lopez *08, co-chief executive officer of PEN America, an organization known as a worldwide champion for free expression. Both shared personal insights about engaging energetically across opposing viewpoints in a deeply polarized society. 

“Research and education require not only that we speak, but that we listen to and learn from one another,” Eisgruber told the students. “They require that we respect and benefit from the wide variety of experiences and viewpoints represented on this campus.”