We are the MIT Free Speech Alliance

The MIT Free Speech Alliance (MFSA) is an independent nonprofit founded by MIT alumni in 2021 to champion free expression and open inquiry at the Institute. We believe that innovation thrives in an environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed and debated.

Since our founding, we have successfully advocated for speech-protective policies at MIT, including the adoption of the 2022 Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom and the 2024 ban on DEI statements in faculty hiring and promotion.

We foster open dialogue through campus events and debates on challenging topics—including academic DEI programs, systemic racism in STEM, and sex and gender—providing a space where members of the MIT community can engage in meaningful, civil discourse. Our debates, available on YouTube, have garnered significant attention, drawing widespread engagement. We stand with those at MIT who face censorship or sanction for their expression, and we support educational initiatives that strengthen students’ understanding of free expression principles.

With over 1,200 members and growing, we are the largest independent organization of MIT graduates dedicated to restoring MIT as a beacon of free expression—ensuring that it remains a leader in innovation and discovery.

Recent News

April 7, 2025
Joining MFSA's Board of Directors are Frank Laukien '84 and Steven Carhart '70, SM '72.
March 3, 2025
The Concerned Donors Fund has made its first grant, to the MIT Council on Academic Freedom.
February 14, 2025
MIT Free Speech Alliance President Wayne Stargardt spoke January 10 at the Heterodox Academy conference, “Censorship in the Sciences: Interdisciplinary Perspectives”.

Upcoming Events

Note: This calendar contains information for MIT Free Speech Alliance Events as well as events by our partner organizations and other campus and community events of note.


April 30, 2025
On April 30, 2025, MFSA hosts the fifth in its series of MIT campus debates, on the issue of closing the gender gap in STEM.
May 7, 2025
MFSA hosts Jenara Nerenberg, author of the book Trust Your Mind: Embracing Nuance in a World of Self-Silencing, at the Cambridge Innova...
May 8, 2025
MFSA's Spring 2025 all-hands meeting will feature Professor Ian Hutchinson, a co-president of the MIT Council on Academic Freedom, as our gu...