About Princetonians for Free Speech

Our Mission

Princetonians for Free Speech will restore freedom of speech, academic freedom, and viewpoint diversity at Princeton University by establishing, educating and empowering a nonpartisan community of alumni to demand Princeton embrace these core values, while supporting faculty and students who join our cause.

Our Vision

At Princetonians for Free Speech, we envision a world where higher education fully and fearlessly embraces the principles of free speech, academic freedom, and viewpoint diversity so students will graduate as well-rounded, critical thinkers who can become the leaders of tomorrow that our country needs.

Our Goals

Free Speech Rankings

Move Princeton to the top 25% in the FIRE speech rankings, including improving Princeton to a “green light” rating

Reduce the current  60+% student "fear"  to speak out on issues down to 25% 

Strengthen support for on-campus Free Speech groups 

Support student group events and initiatives that promote academic freedom and free speech

Assist in increasing membership in all groups

Make Free Speech a permanent part of Freshman orientation 

Achieve greater free speech content on campus (orientation, curriculum, etc.)

Have Princeton adopt the Kalven report, or equivalent policies

Empower alumni to communicate support for free speech to the Princeton administration

Accomplishing Our Goals

Read our letter to Princeton's trustee's here.

We work closely with faculty and student groups supporting free speech, academic freedom, and viewpoint diversity. In September of 2022, we, along with a group of Princeton faculty and students in the Princeton Open Campus Coalition formed the Princeton Free Speech Union, the first formal group on any campus bringing together alumni, faculty, and students to support free speech. Keep reading...




Harvard Law Professor Cass Sunstein Delivers Free Speech Lecture on Constitution Day

October 03, 2024

By Marisa Warman Hirschfield ‘27

“Universities should follow the First Amendment, period. That’s it. That’s the framework.”

Legal scholar Cass R. Sunstein shared this message with over a hundred people in McCosh 50 during his “Free Speech On Campus” lecture. The James Madison Program hosted Sunstein, a Harvard law professor, on September 17th in celebration of Constitution Day. Attendees received a free copy of Sunstein’s 2023 book How to Interpret the Constitution upon entering. Adults comprised most of the audience with some undergraduate students scattered throughout the lecture hall. I attended in my capacity as a ’24-’25 Writing Fellow for Princetonians for Free Speech, an alumni group that offers many opportunities for student involvement.

Judge Denies Plea Deal to Clio Hall Protesters

October 02, 2024

Julie Bonette
Princeton Alumni Weekly

Excerpt: The two pro-Palestinian protesters who were arrested on Princeton’s campus for attempting to set up tents in the spring pleaded guilty and received suspended fines on Oct. 1, but Judge John McCarthy III ’69 denied the same deal to the first of the Clio Hall occupiers appearing in Princeton Municipal Court.

Princeton Opens Bias Investigations Into Anti-Palestinian, Anti-Israel Flyers

October 02, 2024

Hope Perry
Princeton Alumni Weekly

Excerpt: Stickers and flyers with hate messages have been found on campus in recent weeks, prompting the University to open investigations and remind the campus community of its role in addressing harassment.

Princeton Public Safety opened an investigation into a bias incident against Palestinians in early September when about 30 flyers printed with the phrases “Nuke Gaza” and “Kill Roaches” were found on a walkway near Spelman Hall. Several weeks later, on Sept. 28, multiple stickers were found scattered across campus on stop signs and bulletin boards with anti-Israel messages, including “Death to ‘Israel’” and “Tel-Aviv [sic] will Burn.”