MIT Free Speech Alliance
= The MIT Free Speech Alliance (MFSA)
URL = https://www.mitfreespeech.org/
Description
"MIT, like many universities, has turned hostile to free speech, free expression, open scientific inquiry, and viewpoint diversity. In October 2021, MIT canceled the invitation of U. of Chicago geophysicist Dorian Abbot to talk about planetary atmospheres because he had once expressed the view, regarded as simple common sense by most Americans, that personal identity should not supersede merit. The barrage of negative press and public outrage resulting from MIT cancelling Dr. Abbot led MIT to hold two forums at which faculty chair Lily Tsai polled faculty attendees on two questions:
- More than 50% responded "Yes" to "Do you feel on an everyday basis that your voice, or the voices of your colleagues are constrained at MIT?"
- Approximately 80% responded "Yes" to "Are you worried given the current atmosphere in society that your voice or your colleagues' voices are increasingly in jeopardy?"
That a large majority of polled MIT faculty feels that their voices are constrained at MIT reveals a crisis demanding decisive action.
The MIT Free Speech Alliance (MFSA) was formed to call for such action, beginning by investigating the current climate on campus, and recommending how MIT can restore free speech, open scientific inquiry, and a tolerance for viewpoint diversity.We support MIT faculty, students, staff, and other members of the MIT community who are cancelled, attacked, or harassed for expressing their views. We are nonpartisan and will stand up for free speech and academic freedom for everyone. We explicitly support the “Chicago Principles,” the vision of free expression and academic freedom created at the University of Chicago and adopted in one form or another by over eighty universities."