Leading a University in Times of Turmoil

Higher education leaders, alumni, and journalists joined ACTA on October 22 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, for a special program on leading a university in a time of turmoil. The event featured an address by Vanderbilt University Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and a conversation between Chancellor Diermeier and Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, president emeritus of George Washington University and a member of ACTA’s Board of Directors.

In his remarks, Chancellor Diermeier identified institutional neutrality, as outlined in the University of Chicago’s 1967 Kalven Report, as the key solution to pressure from activist groups and calls for divestment. He said that university leaders should speak on behalf of the institution on issues related to the core functioning of the university, such as academic freedom. However, when it comes to political and social issues, “[their] duty is to be silent.” Why? To create maximum possible space for students and faculty to explore ideas on their own. Taking a position on a controversial issue, such as conflict in the Middle East or climate policy, signals to the community that the president’s opinion is the right one. This undermines the free exchange of ideas because students and faculty become concerned about violating the party line. “The purpose of a university,” he said, “is to encourage debate, not settle it.”

Further, institutional neutrality must apply not only to speech, but also to actions, including how the endowment is managed. Vanderbilt’s policy of institutional neutrality means that the endowment shall not be used for political purposes. Calls for divestment are inconsistent with neutrality, no matter the cause. And this ethic of neutrality must also extend down to the academic units, where faculty, especially junior faculty, often feel pressured by their departments to sign statements or signal their solidarity with particular political positions.

Adding to Chancellor Diermeier’s perspective, Dr. Trachtenberg commented that university presidents must exercise firm leadership, refusing to be relegated to a merely clerical role. They should be clear about what the purpose of the university is, restrict comments to areas in which they have expertise, and consistently and appropriately discipline students who violate campus rules. However, this should not restrict them from showing compassion and sharing grief with affected members of the campus community, such as by attending a vigil for the victims of the October 7 attack on Israel.

A recording of their full remarks is available on ACTA’s YouTube channel, and a PDF can be downloaded HERE. We thank Chancellor Diermeier and Dr. Trachtenberg for their principled leadership, and we also thank all who joined us.