MIT Faculty, Administrative Leaders Among Speakers at MFSA’s Second Annual Conference

(L-R above: Karl W. Reid, MIT Vice President of Equity and Inclusion; Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and conference keynote speaker; Harvey Silverglate, co-founder, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression)

With MFSA’s second annual conference coming up on September 26, a terrific program is shaping up that will showcase the multipronged efforts underway to improve the climate for free expression at MIT and give members of the community a chance to interact with and hear from some of the key stakeholders in this important process. This year’s sessions are arranged around the theme of “Turning the Tide” for free expression at MIT, both in highlighting the work that has already been accomplished and discussing the work that remains to be done.

While the last year was a difficult one at MIT and throughout higher education, with heated protests, occupations, and encampments frequently disrupting campus operations and making national headlines, at MIT there were nonetheless signs that the Institute is increasing its commitment to fostering a culture supportive of free expression and showing itself as unafraid to take leadership on the national stage. We’re pleased this year to be able to bring to our conference a number of MIT professors and administrators who have taken on key roles in helping to turn around MIT’s climate.

Attendees at this year’s conference will hear from, among other figures, the co-chairs of MIT’s Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Freedom and Campus Expression (CAFCE), the body charged by MIT President Sally Kornbluth with advising the Institute on how to further institutionalize the principles of its new statement on free expression across the university. Karl W. Reid, MIT’s new Vice President of Equity and Inclusion, will lead a session featuring a variety of MIT leaders working to foster civil discourse and dialogue at the Institute. Attendees will also get to hear a crucial student perspective on the current climate at MIT in a session led by members of the new MIT Open Discourse Society.

Other voices at this year’s conference will expand the scope of the discussion beyond MIT. Famed civil liberties attorney Harvey Silverglate will provide attendees with a grounding on the basic principles of free expression and academic freedom, and why it’s crucial that the university campus be an area of unfettered expression and inquiry. An additional panel of experts from outside institutions will impart some of the lessons they’ve learned from promoting free expression at their own campuses.

Capping the proceedings, of course, is the keynote speech by renowned psychologist and author Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and one of higher education’s most outspoken and eloquent advocates for free inquiry and viewpoint diversity.

A partial listing of speakers and panelists at this year’s conference, with more to be added, includes:

MIT Professors Michael Sipser (Mathematics) and Peko Hosoi (Mechanical Engineering), co-chairs, Committee on Academic Freedom and Campus Expression
Karl W. Reid, Vice President of Equity and Inclusion, MIT
Harvey Silverglate, civil liberties lawyer and author and co-founder, Foundation for Individual rights and Expression (FIRE)
Jason Merchant, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, University of Chicago
David Reingold, Senior Vice President for Policy Planning and Justin S. Morrill Dean, College of Liberal Arts, Purdue University
Ramsey White, Secretary, Board of Trustees, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Joseph de Gearo, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Adelphi University

Our second annual conference takes place on Thursday, September 26, at the Le Meridien Boston Cambridge hotel, adjacent to MIT’s campus. Persons interested in attending the conference are encouraged to either complete our brief registration form or else email MFSA Executive Director Peter Bonilla.

Additionally, we’ve timed this year’s conference to fall on the eve of MIT’s Alumni Leadership Conference (ALC), which runs September 27-28. If you’re attending ALC and would be interested in checking out our conference as well, please let us know! Additionally, we’ll be hosting a happy hour at the Le Meridien on the evening of the 26th that arriving ALC attendees will be welcome to join.

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