In a statement published yesterday, Dartmouth announced on their website the adoption of a policy for any of “Dartmouth's designated spokespersons” to “exercise general restraint in issuing institutional statements.” In its official statement, Dartmouth explains:

Restraint at the institutional level protects and enhances freedom of expression because institutional endorsement for a specific position or belief may deter community members who do not share that belief from expressing their skepticism or opposition. An institution committed to inquiry and open discourse should, therefore, issue institutional statements sparingly – typically when external events have a direct impact upon the relationship of the institution to its members.

Dartmouth’’s decision to adopt its policy on institutional statements comes on the heels of a coordinated campaign from Heterodox Academy to encourage universities to adopt these commitments. On September 20, our policy team wrote to President Sian Leah Beilock, Provost David Kotz, and the Dartmouth College Board of Trustees; asking them to adopt a policy of statement neutrality, stating:

Adopting institutional statement neutrality will protect the freedom of inquiry and expression within the academic community by ensuring all members of the Dartmouth community can freely research, teach, and discuss all sides of an issue without fear of ostracization and repercussions from the university itself.

Explaining the rationale for the policy, Dartmouth writes:

Restraint at the institutional level protects and enhances freedom of expression because institutional endorsement for a specific position or belief may deter community members who do not share that belief from expressing their skepticism or opposition. An institution committed to inquiry and open discourse should, therefore, issue institutional statements sparingly – typically when external events have a direct impact upon the relationship of the institution to its members.

We agree and applaud Dartmouth for taking this important step. Learn more about institutional statement neutrality, our policy model, and the growing list of universities protecting open inquiry on campus on our website.