Teaching Students How to Think

Mr. Diermeie,,chancellor of Vanderbilt University, defends Vanderbilt’s position that free speech is alive and well at Vanderbilt. Its teaching includes (if not stresses) an appreciation from students from a range of perspectives—”to learn how, not what, to think.”

The university remains one of the last places in society where people with diverse viewpoints can engage in the kind of civil dialogue that allows them to explore complex topics—and find innovative solutions to difficult problems—together. To this end, university students should debate one another respectfully. They should challenge each other’s ideas, as well as their own. If part of that process involves protest, then they should engage in that, too.

What is among the many activates stressed? Protesting is among them. Some protests have remained peaceful, resulting in civil exchange, including counterprotests, lectures and debates. Hard to believe, the Chancellor implores, but keep an open mind:

This commitment to civil discourse is typical for our students. Last month, our College Democrats and College Republicans held a joint debate on another divisive issue: gun control. Despite the charged subject matter, the student-led event was notable for its substance and civility.

Vanderbilt, alleges the chancellor, has worked hard to nurture a culture of free expression built on three pillars.

#1: A determination to provide an open forum: opportunities for dialogue and debate.

#2: The practice of institutional neutrality, by which university leaders refrain from publicly taking political positions to avoid indirectly stifling free thought and expression among students and faculty.

#3: Most distinctive, is a commitment to civil discourse, the practice of respectful argument rooted in facts, which our undergraduates agree to uphold when they sign a student-authored community creed before taking their first classes.

Respect without Disruptions

Critics claiming Vanderbilt has abandoned its long-held commitment to free expression are just wrong, defends Mr. Diermeier:

Vanderbilt supports, teaches and defends free expression—but to do so, we must safeguard the environment for it. Students can advocate BDS. That is freedom of expression. But they can’t disrupt university operations during classes, in libraries or on construction sites. The university won’t adopt BDS principles. That’s institutional neutrality. As a community, we should always remember to treat each other with respect and rely on the force of the better argument. That’s civil discourse.

During difficult times, like the present, universities will be tested. Vanderbilt clearly states its principles and rules that support its mission.

Then Vanderbilt enforces them.