đïž Greg Lukianoff on Free Speech & Campus Culture
Greg Lukianoff, head of FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression), discusses the importance of protecting free speech on campuses and in society. He co-wrote "The Canceling of the American Mind" with Rikki Schlott.
đ What is FIRE?
Founded in 1999 to fight campus speech codes, FIRE now works off-campus too. Lukianoff highlights that while laws matter, what really sustains free speech is culture â shared values like âeveryoneâs entitled to their opinionâ đŹ.
đ First Amendment 101
Free speech is broadly protected under U.S. Law, even if it offends. Exceptions include:
đ« True threats
đ„ Incitement to violence
đ§Ÿ Defamation
âïž Discriminatory harassment (severe, targeted speech)
đ Shift in Campus Culture
In the 2000s, most students supported open expression, while college administrators often pushed censorship. But by 2013â2014, student activism shifted toward demanding censorship too â trigger warnings, speaker bans, and safe spaces. For the first time, both students and administrators aligned against free expression đŹ.
đ§ The Bigger Picture
Lukianoff says:
â
Laws protect our rights
â
Culture protects our minds
Without a culture that encourages listening, disagreement, and tolerance, even the best laws canât save free speech. To stay truly free, we must defend both the right to speak and the willingness to hear others out đ€.
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