Greg Lukianoff, President of FIRE, discusses free speech on campuses and cancel culture. He highlights the rise of safetyism, the importance of viewpoint diversity, and the impact on student mental health. Lukianoff emphasizes open inquiry and challenging orthodoxies for a thriving university education.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Origin Story
Greg Lukianoff's passion for free speech stems from his childhood surrounded by immigrant families fleeing oppressive regimes.
He realized the preciousness and fragility of free speech, leading him to dedicate his career to First Amendment law.
insights INSIGHT
Resignations and Free Speech
The resignations of university presidents highlight broader free speech issues, not just individual responses.
Their lack of prior commitment to free speech undermined their credibility.
insights INSIGHT
Competition and Implementation
Implementing free speech principles requires competition from smaller, more affordable, and rigorous alternatives.
Established institutions' prestige is challenged by their admission practices and student outcomes.
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In this thought-provoking episode of Future U., we sit down with Greg Lukianoff, president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and co-author of the bestselling book "The Coddling of the American Mind," as well as the new book, "The Canceling of the American Mind." Lukianoff shares his insights on the state of free speech on college campuses and examines the rise of cancel culture, the debate over the limits of free expression, and the potential double standards in how universities approach these issues. He argues that certain campus trends, such as "safetyism" and the suppression of viewpoint diversity, may be harming student mental health and resilience. He emphasizes the importance of open inquiry, intellectual diversity, and the ability to challenge prevailing orthodoxies as essential components of a thriving university education. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Key Moments (0:00) - Intro (3:53) - Free speech issues in higher education, particularly anti-Semitism and double standards (8:30) - Free speech and academic freedom in higher education (14:21) - Limitations of free speech on campus viewpoint diversity, and campus violence (17:41) - Mental Health and Technology (24:17) - Free Speech Challenges in Higher Ed (30:39) - Free speech impacts admissions
Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed 