In recent years there has been a growing change in the culture and even  policies of many college and university campuses that threaten the environment of free expression and speech which is essential for institutions of higher learning to contribute to a healthy democracy. In many venues, a growing fraction of students are feeling intimidated to express viewpoints on many topics.  Most troubling, at Harvard a significant number of students believe that disruptive and even violent forms of protest to stop speech are acceptable.  Further, Harvard has one of the highest rates of deplatforming speakers.

We note that in response to recent controversial events, the president of Harvard Claudine Gay affirmed that Harvard "embraces a commitment to free expression."

We, as Harvard alumni, faculty and students, ask that president Gay and the Harvard Leadership show this commitment by joining the Campus Call for Free Expression (established by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars), endorse the Chicago Statement on free speech, and to follow up with more concrete actions to rebuild an environment where free speech and expression can flourish.