Summer 2026 Letter from MFSA President Wayne Stargardt

July 22, 2026

To Members of the MIT Free Speech Alliance:

The past semester at MIT was relatively calm on the free speech front, with few visible incidents challenging open inquiry or academic freedom on campus. That quiet does not mean the broader environment is static. Across American higher education, serious efforts are taking shape to address political bias, self‑censorship, and the erosion of public trust in universities, and many of these reforms focus directly on free expression, viewpoint diversity, and the quality of scholarship.

Several national developments in the first half of 2026 are worth highlighting:

At Harvard Medical School, the Open Inquiry Working Group documented substantial faculty and student self‑censorship both inside and outside the classroom, and its final report urged reforms grounded in the school’s core mission of rigorous science and humane care to improve viewpoint tolerance and diversity.
The Yale Committee on Trust in Higher Education concluded that free speech shortcomings, ideological bias, and widespread self‑censorship are central causes of the public’s loss of confidence in universities, and acknowledged that Yale has shared in these failures.
Vanderbilt University and Washington University in St. Louis hosted their second annual conference on “Restoring Trust in Higher Education,” focusing on how curriculum design, faculty hiring, and professional associations contribute to politicization of universities and drift from their traditional mission.
These institutions subsequently released a joint report noting how politicization and weakened standards in the humanities and social sciences have diverted universities from their traditional mission of truth‑seeking and education.
The American Association of Colleges and Universities released its own report on rebuilding public trust in higher education, including recommendations intended to strengthen viewpoint diversity and institutional integrity.

Complementing these introspective assessments, other advocates for higher education reform have recently released comprehensive statements. Heterodox Academy intensified its advocacy for viewpoint diversity as a foundational condition for universities to refocus on their core mission and recover public respect. And the National Association of Scholars issued a position paper arguing that the current structure of government research funding has degraded the quality and productivity of scholarship and contributed to the erosion of public trust in science.

Another striking structural reform has been the rapid growth of civic centers and institutes within universities that seek to revive classic liberalism, civic ideals, and the Western intellectual tradition. Many institutions have concluded that fully reforming ideologically captured humanities and social science departments is too difficult in the near term, and are instead creating parallel centers dedicated to pluralism, constitutionalism, and serious engagement with the great books.

Heterodox Academy’s recent dataset identifies forty‑five civics centers across forty‑one institutions, with a sharp acceleration in growth since 2021 and thirteen new centers announced since 2023. Examples announced in 2025–2026 include:

The Ordered Liberty Project at Washington University in St. Louis, a university‑wide initiative that will recruit faculty in classical liberalism and connect programs that promote academic freedom, viewpoint diversity, and rigorous civic
The University of Florida’s Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education, part of a growing network of publicly funded institutes emphasizing the American founding, constitutionalism, and Western political thought.
New civics centers at the University of South Carolina, Arizona State University, and other public institutions, often created through state legislation and dedicated to civic thought, classical liberal arts, and dialogue across differences.

This wave of civic centers reflects a broader recognition that universities must rebuild a culture of serious debate, viewpoint diversity, and intellectual humility if they are to regain public trust.

MFSA in the First Half of 2026

Against this backdrop, MFSA continued to make concrete progress on our mission of restoring open discourse, tolerance for diverse viewpoints, and unrestrained academic freedom at MIT. Many of the initiatives discussed in previous letters have now moved from plans to accomplishments, and they position MFSA as one of the most constructive and effective alumni free speech organizations in the country.

Some highlights from the first half of 2026:

MFSA launched the MIT Uncanceled Substack, expanding alumni outreach
Early this year MFSA started a Substack publication, MIT Uncanceled, aimed at MIT alumni who are not yet MFSA members but care deeply about the Institute’s culture and future. The Substack has already attracted thousands of subscribers, with essays analyzing MIT’s free speech climate, national developments such as the federal draft Compact on Academic Excellence, and broader trends in STEM education and research.
MFSA created a Board of Advisors to broaden expertise
Building on the strength of our Board of Directors, MFSA added a Board of Advisors composed of distinguished MIT alumni, faculty, and national free speech advocates. This group provides strategic counsel, amplifies our voice in national discussions, and strengthens our ability to collaborate constructively with MIT’s leadership, faculty, and students. Members bring experience from industry, academia, and public service, further cementing MFSA’s reputation within the Alumni Free Speech Alliance as a national model of principled, data‑driven alumni advocacy.
MFSA continued to advocate for freedom of expression at MIT
MFSA remained a consistent voice urging MIT to strengthen its commitment to freedom of expression and academic freedom. We endorsed the faculty Committee on Academic Freedom and Campus Expression (CAFCE) report, which aligned with our principles, while also pushing for more robust implementation of its recommendations and for a permanent institutional structure to continue its work. We engaged with MIT’s administration and faculty through public commentaries, private correspondence, and participation in campus events to keep cultural reform on the agenda despite new financial and political pressures on the Institute.
MFSA sustained programming that models open, civil discourse
Although our planned spring debate did not ultimately enroll enough participants, MFSA’s broader portfolio of events continues to demonstrate how controversial topics can be examined through evidence‑based argument and respectful disagreement. Recordings of our prior debates and conference panels on the MFSA YouTube channel continue to attract viewers who seek informed, civil discussions that model the kind of discourse MIT should embody. In the meantime, we’re keeping our members engaged with a series of summer webinars featuring authors of several recent notable texts on free speech and viewpoint diversity.

These activities, combined with our ongoing support for faculty and student initiatives such as the MIT Council on Academic Freedom (MITCAF), the MIT Open Discourse Society, the MIT Concourse program, and the MIT Civil Discourse Project reinforce MFSA’s role as a constructive partner in rebuilding MIT’s culture of open inquiry.

Plans for the Remainder of 2026

At the beginning of the year, MFSA set clear objectives to guide our work in 2026, and those priorities remain largely unchanged.

Continue advocating specific changes to foster freedom of expression
In 2024 MFSA published comprehensive Recommendations to strengthen freedom of expression at MIT and reduce self‑censorship. Many of these measures have been adopted or discussed at peer institutions and echoed in national reports on restoring trust in higher education. We will continue urging MIT to adopt these common‑sense reforms, with special attention to our five priority recommendations, which are explained in detail on our website.

Adopt institutional neutrality
A growing number of universities have embraced institutional neutrality, pledging not to take official positions on public controversies unrelated to their core academic mission. MIT already behaves in accordance with this principle. The Institute should join its peers and make this policy official.
Stop administrative policing of protected speech
Other universities are disbanding their bias response teams, and MIT should do the same.
Establish a permanent organization within MIT to support freedom of expression
Both the original Ad Hoc Committee on Freedom of Expression and CAFCE recommended that MIT create a standing body responsible for keeping the Statement on Freedom of Expression visible, interpreting its implications, and developing initiatives to strengthen it over time. MFSA regards this as one of our highest‑priority reforms and will continue working with faculty and administrators to secure a durable solution.
Clearly explain MIT’s free speech values and policies to students
More universities are now providing orientation programs that teach undergraduates both their free speech rights and their responsibilities for respectful and constructive discourse. At MIT, MFSA believes the Institute should move beyond handing out a pamphlet and instead integrate free expression training into first‑year programming and ongoing student development.
Educate administrative staff on the importance of viewpoint diversity and free expression
MIT’s administrative and support staff, numbering around 8,000 employees, play a major role in shaping campus culture but are not always steeped in MIT’s traditions of academic freedom and open inquiry. Training and engagement programs that align staff with the Institute’s free expression values are needed, particularly given their influence on student life, communications, and policy implementation.

Hold our fourth annual conference on free speech in STEM
Planning is well underway for MFSA’s fourth annual conference, scheduled for September 17, the day before MIT’s Alumni Leadership Conference, to make attendance convenient for visiting alumni. This year’s theme will examine how multiple threats to open discourse are creating a crisis in STEM research and education, and what can be done about it. The conference will convene thought leaders from around the country alongside MIT faculty to discuss practical strategies for protecting academic freedom in science and engineering disciplines.

Continue strengthening alumni outreach through Substack and other channels
Our new Substack complements MFSA’s website, YouTube channel, and membership communications, giving us a platform to reach alumni who may not yet be engaged with MFSA but care about MIT’s exceptionalism. We will continue publishing accessible, analytic essays on MIT’s culture, national policy developments, and the broader ecosystem of free speech advocacy, and we invite members to share these articles with classmates and colleagues.

Continue supporting faculty and student advocacy for free speech
MFSA will maintain and deepen collaboration with MITCAF, CAFCE’s successor structures, and student organizations such as MODS. Our Concerned Donors Fund and other grantmaking will continue to prioritize programs on campus that promote viewpoint diversity, civil discourse, and serious engagement with classic liberal principles in STEM contexts.

Taken together, these objectives position MFSA to keep cultural reform at MIT moving forward even as the Institute faces new financial and political challenges.

A Positive Turning Point

Across recent FIRE rankings, national reports, and internal MIT discussions, there is growing recognition that self‑censorship, ideological conformity, and unclear speech policies threaten the Institute’s ability to remain the world’s leading STEM university. At the same time, reforms such as MIT’s ban on mandatory DEI statements in faculty hiring, the formation of MITCAF, and serious faculty work through CAFCE demonstrate that MIT can change course when its community engages the issues honestly and constructively.

MFSA’s overarching goal remains to support MIT’s exceptionalism and sustain its leadership in STEM research, education, and scholarship. A culture of open inquiry, free expression, viewpoint diversity, and academic freedom has historically underpinned MIT’s success, and there are reasons to be optimistic that this culture can be renewed. While significant self-censorship persists and much work remains, the momentum of national reform, combined with the dedication of MIT faculty, students, alumni, and staff, suggests that the tide is turning.

Thank you for supporting this critical mission. You are a member of the largest independent organization of MIT graduates, and your membership reflects your high regard for MIT, your respect for its distinctive exceptionalism, and your commitment to preserving it as the world’s leading STEM university. Your membership also enables MFSA to work constructively with MIT’s leadership and community to restore the culture of this remarkable institution.

MFSA relies primarily on the effort and expertise of about two dozen volunteers, and we always welcome more help. Many roles require only modest time commitments, so if you are interested in contributing your skills—whether in communications, event planning, outreach, or data analysis—please consider volunteering. We also depend on member donations to fund our events and support programming for faculty and students. If you believe MFSA is making a positive impact on MIT, we invite you to make a financial contribution to support our shared cause.

Sincerely,

Wayne Stargardt ’74
President, MIT Free Speech Alliance

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