Assembly LX: Free Speech, Free Expression and Free Inquiry at Yale
Friday, April 26 through Saturday, April 27, 2002
Second Assembly Session

Principles in Practice: Student Perspectives on Free Speech at Yale

Three breakout sessions on "Student Perspectives on Free Speech at Yale" allowed participants to choose among discussions of free speech as it relates to political activism, peer pressures, and print publications. Each breakout involved a panel of students and a moderator.

The Student Publications: Who Says What and Where
Yale Daily News Board member Jonathan Rose '63 moderated a panel of Yale students who write for student publications. The three students were Chiraag Bains '03, managing editor of Type magazine; Andrew Heller '03, senior editor of the Yale Herald; and Christopher Michel '03, editor-in-chief of the Yale Daily News. The panelists began by briefly describing their publications and offering some thoughts on free speech issues.

Type magazine focuses on race and ethnicity. It is not a news magazine, but publishes personal essays by Yale students. Bains would like the writers in Type magazine to take more political stances, and to express a broader range of opinion.

Heller said the Yale Herald was founded in 1986. It is published once each week during term and includes a mix of serious news articles with opinion pieces, as well as a heavy focus on music, movies and campus productions. The Herald strongly believes in holding Yale's administration accountable for public statements made regarding issues affecting the campus community.

Chris Michel said that the Yale Daily News covers daily events on campus and in New Haven. One important issue for the editorial staff is how to differentiate between news and opinion.

In their discussion, the students addressed the effects of the internet on editorial policy, the challenges of reflecting the full range of student opinion, and the publishing of controversial ads.

Social and Political Views: Advocacy and Activism on the Yale Campus
Steven Smith, Alfred Cowles Professor of Political Science and Master of Branford College, moderated a panel consisting of two students, Jacob Remes '02, coordinator of "Alumni for a Better Yale" and Justin Zaremby '03, secretary of the Conservative Party. The two students, who represented opposing points on the political spectrum, discussed their views of the climate for political and social activism on campus.

Smith opened the session by defining two types of activism. One appeals to a heroic past that has eroded. There is an emphasis on a return or restoration of the past. The second appeals to the future. There is a desire to correct the sins of the fathers, bringing about a change.

Remes quoted from Rosa Luxemburg: "Freedom is most important to the one who disagrees." He said that freedom of expression is very healthy at Yale. However, the administration has a tendency to quiet meaningful debate about Yale itself. There is no overt suppression of speech, but there is subtle pressure to avoid certain topics. He claimed that the administration has the power to stifle dissent by out-spending its opponents. As examples, he pointed to controversies involving Yale's existing unions, other unions that are attempting to organize additional workers, and the petition candidate for the Corporation, Rev. David Lee '93 MDiv.

Zaremby felt that the administration did not act to suppress speech, but agreed with Dean Brodhead that specific occasions arise that require administrators to walk a fine line between free speech and other values. He also expressed the view that students and faculty tend to censor themselves in order to avoid conflict. After September 11, for example, some students did not feel free to support the military. There are certain issues faculty do not seem to be comfortable addressing, and junior faculty seem to avoid taking strong stances because they do not have tenure.

Unspoken words: Tacit Constraints on Free Expression at Yale
Five seniors currently serving as freshman counselors opened the discussion in this breakout session. They shared their own experiences with free expression at Yale, centering on the topics of race, sexuality, religion, and politics. They observed that many Yale students are hypersensitive to discussion of these topics, and that people therefore tend to tread lightly in conversations. Those who adopt more extreme positions may strive to be heard, but there is very little middle ground for discussion and students fearing social ostracism simply decline to speak. In addition, some ethnic, gender, religious and political groups self-segregate such that there is not so much a discourse as there is a comfort in common ground.

Alumni present at this session observed that the "norm" of Yale today is different than what they experienced (particularly with respect to political affiliations). Some wondered whether Yale should respond to some of the social ostracism or extremes, or whether this was simply part of the educational process and the experience of maturing.