The Story Donald Trump and the campus speech wars
Mar 30, 2025
Join Sir Niall Ferguson, a historian and Times columnist known for his free speech advocacy, as he dives into the complex clash between political power and academic freedoms. He explores how Trump's policies have reshaped university funding based on campus protests, particularly around contentious topics like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ferguson reflects on his own storied experiences in academia, highlighting the rise of cancel culture and the challenges it poses for free discourse. It's a captivating discussion on the future of speech in our educational institutions.
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Harvard's Shift
- Niall Ferguson moved to Harvard in 2004, initially impressed by its academic rigor and the leadership of Larry Summers.
- Summers' later dismissal over comments on gender and math performance signaled a shift in the university's atmosphere.
First Encounter with Cancel Culture
- In 2014, Ferguson's wife, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, was disinvited from giving a commencement address at Brandeis University after protests.
- This incident, along with other cancellations and firings, highlighted the growing cancel culture within academia.
Totalitarianism Light
- Ferguson's attempt to organize a free speech series at Stanford was disrupted by student groups and bureaucrats.
- He observed a chilling similarity between the denunciations occurring at universities and those in totalitarian regimes.