ACTA in the NewsFreedom of Expression
Commentary: UVa’s new president must improve campus freedom
As the University of Virginia (UVa) begins its search for a new president, it is imperative that the university require applicants to demonstrate their commitment to improving freedom of expression and diversity of thought on campus. Change in this area is urgently needed. In 2022, Emma Camp, then a senior at UVa, described a campus culture of fear that led her and other students to self-censor — and even lie — to stay on the right side of peers and professors. While our organization, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), has documented policy improvements at UVa in the areas of free expression and institutional neutrality over the last few years, our new survey shows that UVa still struggles with the problems Emma described.