One of Canada’s most prestigious post-secondary institutions has officially endorsed the Chicago Principles, a suite of guiding propositions designed to demonstrate a commitment to freedom of speech and freedom of expression on college campuses.
Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. released a statement last week endorsing the Chicago Principles in the wake of “significant global and domestic events” which have inevitably made “themselves felt in our daily lives at Queen’s.”
The Chicago Principles were founded at the University of Chicago in 2014 in response to students at various schools attempting, often successfully, to prevent controversial figures from speaking on college campuses.
They were laid out to articulate the institution’s “overarching commitment to free, robust, and uninhibited debate and deliberation among all members of the University’s community.”
In the wake of ever-growing conflict in the Middle East, Queen’s Principal Patrick Deane expressed the institution’s inability to take a stance in a school-wide email last week.
Deane said Queen’s position regarding commenting on global and domestic affairs is to promote diverse understanding through research and dialogue.
While he acknowledged that ongoing conflicts are more likely to evoke strong emotions due to “personal, moral, or ethical conviction[s],” especially when individuals, family or friends are directly impacted, the university itself will not take a stance.
“The pressure to comment or adopt a position can be considerable, but the university, by definition and mission, is a diverse plurality: a large community that includes many different perspectives, which the institution considers and evaluates through dialogue and research,” reads the email.
Deane stressed that individual members of the Queen’s community are still encouraged to express their personal views, highlighting the university’s commitment to “free and open enquiry,” consistent with the Chicago Principles as well as the Magna Charta Universitatum, to which Queen’s is a signatory.
However, Deane said that regardless of the various approaches of other universities, Queen’s will limit institutional statements to only issues which directly affect the University itself.
“With these considerations in mind, Queen’s is adopting a standard practice of not issuing university statements that take an institutional position on global or domestic affairs. Faculties and departments are asked to mirror this approach,” said Deane.
While faculties and departments may continue to express their personal views, the principal noted that they are reminded to distinguish such views from being interpreted as official university positions.
“Together, our community can continue to foster a respectful and inclusive environment where ideas can be expressed and explored with openness, tolerance, and academic rigour. Your support in this matter is greatly appreciated,” said Deane.