College football season is officially here, and the University of Southern California and the University of Texas have already secured two of the easiest wins of 2024.
At a time when every institution, corporation, and university feels the need to publicly declare their support for progressive causes, USC and UT are heading in the opposite direction: institutional neutrality. See how easy this is?
The FIRE organization posted press releases from both USC and Texas last week explaining that as the fall semester begins, both universities will avoid taking public positions on the political issues of the day, which is the obvious and right answer for all universities going forward.
A statement from USC said the public comments “contravene our responsibility to support diversity of viewpoints, open and fair debate, free speech, and safety in all aspects of campus life” and that such comments “suppress people’s right to free speech,” the university said.
The University of Texas’ statement was similar: “Because the University of Texas System is committed to free and open inquiry in all matters, we guarantee all members of the University of Texas System the fullest possible freedom to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn.”
University of Texas students walk on campus on the first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (© Jay Janner/American Statesman/USA Today Network)
UT, USC get basic freedom of speech issue right
Future historians will study why it took so long for universities and other institutions to recognize the importance of free speech and open debate. No one needs to know what USC and UT think as institutions about the political issues of the day. And when universities make such statements, it necessarily limits the ability of students and faculty with opposing views to do so publicly.
Teachers and professors are overwhelmingly left-leaning, as are administrators, and their open espouse of progressive or left-leaning views will no doubt intimidate right-leaning students into silence.
Institutional neutrality is the way forward, the polar opposite of the DEI statements, initiatives, and obsessive virtue signaling of recent years. It’s time for all other universities and large corporations to follow suit and commit to following USC and Texas’ lead. In the meantime, this is an early-season win for both schools.
