A Message From Yale Law School’s Dean Gerken
Yale Law School | Dean Gerken
Dean Heather K. Gerken sent a message to Yale Law School students, staff, and faculty regarding protests that disrupted an event hosted by the Federalist Society student group.
“Under the University’s free expression policy, student groups have every right to invite speakers to campus, and others have every right to voice opposition. Our commitment to free speech is clear and unwavering. Because unfettered debate is essential to our mission, we allow people to speak even when their speech is flatly inconsistent with our core values…”
“As Dean, I am deeply committed to our free speech policies and the values they safeguard. I will protect free speech without fear or favor. But I have waited to write you because it is our conversations as a community that matter most. In our statement-hungry culture, university leaders are constantly asked to be referees, encouraging our students to appeal to a higher authority rather than to engage with one another…”