University of Arkansas

We aim to build a broad coalition of faculty and students who share our devotion to open inquiry, constructive disagreement, and freedom of speech. For research to be truthful, it must be unfettered by orthodoxy; for education to be edifying, it must be open to contentious discussion; for speech to be meaningful, it must be guided by conscience. As John Milton wrote in his 1644 homage to the Areopagus, a hill in ancient Athens known for its rich heritage of open dialogue: "Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties."

We seek to strengthen the connection between the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville—already known as the "Athens of the Ozarks"—and this rich heritage of open dialogue. To enact this vision, our campus community will host events that embody these values, which also align with the core values of the University of Arkansas' mission: curiosity, creativity, character, and our shared humanity. Finally, our campus community will collaborate with university leadership to advance this shared vision.