Free Speech, Political Speech, and Hate Speech on Campus

In response to recent events, protest and discord have reached a fever pitch on university campuses. It is in this context that Harvard Radcliffe Institute gathered interdisciplinary experts for a crucial discussion about hate speech, academic freedom, and the legal norms that govern how universities can respond to protest.

In this episode, we explore the underpinnings of how antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other identity-based hatreds—issues that have received increased attention in the context of the ongoing Gaza crisis and attendant campus controversies—fit into a broader set of questions about the role of institutions of higher education.

This episode was recorded on December 12, 2023.

Released on December 20, 2023.

Episode Transcript

Guests

Tomiko Brown-Nagin, dean, Harvard Radcliffe Institute; Daniel P.S. Paul Professor of Constitutional Law, Harvard Law School; and professor of history, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Erica Chenoweth, Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Professor, Harvard Radcliffe Institute; academic dean for faculty engagement and the Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment, Harvard Kennedy School; and faculty dean at Pforzheimer House, Harvard College

Jeannie Suk Gersen, John H. Watson, Jr. Professor of Law, Harvard Law School

Nadine Strossen, John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law Emerita, New York Law School; past president, American Civil Liberties Union

Keith E. Whittington, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Politics, Princeton University

Related Content

Event: Free Speech, Political Speech, and Hate Speech on Campus

Credits

Ivelisse Estrada is your cohost and the editorial lead at Harvard Radcliffe Institute (HRI), where she edits Radcliffe Magazine.

Alan Catello Grazioso is the executive producer of BornCurious and the senior multimedia manager at HRI.

Jeff Hayash is a freelance sound engineer and recordist.

Marcus Knoke is a multimedia intern at HRI, a Harvard College student, and the general manager of Harvard Radio Broadcasting.

Heather Min is your cohost and the senior manager of digital strategy at HRI.

Anna Soong is the production assistant at HRI.

Special thanks to Kevin Grady and Max Doyle from Radcliffe’s event streaming team for their invaluable contributions to recording this podcast episode.