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THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO Dean of Students

Dear Class of 2020 Student:

welcome and conSl?atulations on your acceptance to the College at the University of Chicago. Earning a
Place in our community of scholars is no small achievement and we are delighted that you selected
Chicago to continue your intellectual journey.

Once here you will discover that one of the University of Chicago?s defining characteristics is our
commitment to freedom of inquiry and expression. This is captured in the University?s faculty report on
freedom of expression. Members of our community are encouraged to speak, write, listen, challenge
and learn, without fear of censorship. Civility and mutual respect are vital to all of us, and freedom of
expression does not mean the freedom to harass or threaten others. You will find that we expect
members of our community to be engaged in rigorous debate, discussion, and even disagreement. At
times this may challenge you and even cause discomfort.

Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called "trigger warnings,? we
do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone
the creation of intellectual "safe spaces? where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at

odds with their own.

Fostering the free exchange of ideas reinforces a related University priority?building a campus that
welcomes people of all backgrounds. Diversity of opinion and background is a fundamental strength of

our community. The members of our community must have the freedom to espouse and explore a wide

range of ideas.

ohn W. Boyer, the Martin A. Ryerson Distinguished Service

Professor in History and Dean of the College, which provides a helpful primer. This monograph, entitled

demic Freedom and the Modern University: The Experience of the University of Chicago, recounts the
ommitment to academic freedom.

lam enclosing a short monograph by Dean]

Aca
history of debate, and even scandal, resulting from our 

in some of the source material mentioned in Dean Boyer?s book, you can find links

If you are intereste
lven report, the Stone report, etc.), at the website maintained by

to the important reports the Ka
our University Provost at 

Again, welcome to the University of Chicago. See you in September!

Sincerely,

Jay

John (Jay) Ellison, 
Dean of Students in The College

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