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To: Arizona Board of Regents

We, the undersigned, alongside the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), petition the Board of Regents to adopt an official policy that clarifies and codifies its commitment to institutional neutrality, in addition to its existing materials on the subject. The posture of institutional neutrality is best articulated by the University of Chicago’s Kalven Report, which expresses that the role of the university is to be “the home and sponsor of critics . . . not itself the critic,” and restricts administrative statements on political and social issues in all but the rarest circumstances. Similar positions have recently been adopted by several prominent institutions, including Harvard, Stanford, Syracuse, and Purdue.

Following an academic year marked by protests, encampments, and difficult social and political conversations on many university campuses, it is timely to adopt policies that promote healthy discourse on campus and the role institutional voice should play.

It is heartening that Arizona’s universities annually reaffirm their commitment to institutional neutrality with the publication of a Free Expression Annual Report. It is similarly encouraging that the Board’s Free Expression Committee website provides a link to the Kalven Report. The minutes of the Board’s Free Expression Committee from August 7, 2018, express alignment with institutional neutrality in their statement that “The universities strive to promote diversity of thought and not to decide what views people should take on campus. There is no single administrative position on issues that faculty, staff and students are required to promote.”

Despite this laudable sentiment and the consistent philosophy of the Board, none of Arizona’s public university policies express a clear, binding commitment to neutrality on political and social issues. Without definitive guidance, university administrations and academic units have released public statements suggesting a “single administrative position” on issues of the day that are unrelated to the mission or needs of their institutions.

Arizona’s universities are currently limited in their institutional speech by Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-1633, which prohibits the use of university resources for the purpose of influencing elections or affecting the outcome of legislation. This statutory restriction does not, however, encompass the full spectrum of controversies discussed on campus — in ethics, geopolitics, and broader culture. Accordingly, we urge the Board of Regents to adopt an official policy on institutional neutrality to guide its member institutions without ambiguity.

By codifying an official and binding position on institutional neutrality, the Arizona Board of Regents and Arizona’s public universities can cultivate an environment that is most conducive to free expression and pluralism.

Sincerely,

  1. Aaron Cromar; Arizona State University, Doctoral Student Instructor
  2. Alan Ellis; Arizona State University, Class of 1989
  3. Amanda Pizarro; Arizona State University, Class of 2026
  4. Ann N.; Arizona State University, Class of 2007
  5. Boaz Witbeck; Arizona State University, Class of 2013
  6. Brendan Trachsel; Northern Arizona University, Class of 2026
  7. Brock Blasdell; Arizona State University, Class of 2024
  8. Caroline Reed; Northern Arizona University, Class of 2025
  9. David Govorko; University of Arizona, Class of 1967
  10. Deborah Hudson; University of Arizona, Class of 1996
  11. Dillon Dugan; Arizona State University, Class of 2015
  12. Evan Hodge; Arizona State University, Class of 2023
  13. Rev. David Poedel; University of Arizona, Class of 1983
  14. Ednan Al-Asady; Arizona State University, Class of 2027
  15. Elizabeth Wakefield; Arizona State University, Class of 2025
  16. Grace Crothers; Northern Arizona University, Class of 2024
  17. Gundry Furedy; Arizona State University, Class of 2027
  18. Jack Silver, Arizona State University, Class of 2025
  19. Janet Gerla; University of Arizona, Class of 1982
  20. Jason Furedy; University of Arizona, Class of 1993
  21. Jaydah Henry-Phillips; Northern Arizona University, Class of 2028
  22. Joe Pitts; Arizona State University, Class of 2023
  23. Joseph Russomanno; Arizona State University, Professor Emeritus
  24. Joshua Martinez; University of Arizona, Class of 2004
  25. Kristy Holtfreter; Arizona State University, Faculty
  26. Madeline Liu; Arizona State University, Class of 2025
  27. Matthew Mitchell; Arizona State University, Class of 2002
  28. Melanie MacEacheron; Arizona State University, Faculty
  29. Michaela Moore; University of Arizona, Class of 2026
  30. Natalie Mendoza; Arizona State University, Class of 2028
  31. Paige Singer; University of Arizona, Class of 1995
  32. Patricia Whisel; University of Arizona, Class of 2015
  33. Patrick McCarthy; University of Arizona, Class of 1992
  34. Patrick Obermeyer; Arizona State University, Class of 2027
  35. Rick Trinkner; Arizona State University, Faculty
  36. Robert Benzinger; Arizona State University, Class of 1973
  37. Sami Al-Asady; Arizona State University, Class of 2024
  38. Sandra Woien; Arizona State University, Faculty
  39. Thomas Amodeo; Arizona State University, Class of 2025
  40. Tom Lauerman; Arizona State University, Class of 1972