[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 24 (Monday, February 7, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              FREE SPEECH

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, on another subject, I have come to 
this floor several times in recent months--maybe over the course of a 
couple of years--on my concerns about free speech on campus. There has 
been a lot said in opposition to reports of crackdown on speech on 
campuses, but today I come to the floor to give one shining example of 
a university upholding expressions of free speech and making it still 
happen.
  This all started with former University of Chicago President Robert 
Zimmer. The institution, starting with him and continuing, has 
consistently pushed back on the trends of safe spaces, trigger 
warnings, and the cancellation of invited speakers.
  Instead, in a letter to all incoming freshmen, the University of 
Chicago lays out its philosophy in plain English. In the letter to the 
2020 freshman class, it said that one of the university's ``defining 
characteristics is our commitment to freedom of inquiry and 
expression.''
  Now, this is more than just words; the university has consistently 
followed through on this policy. Even today, the university is still 
open to dissenting points of view. It even goes so far as to tell 
freshmen ``at times this may challenge you and even cause discomfort.''
  They are absolutely right. The point of college is not to be coddled. 
The point of college or university is to learn. How can students do 
that if they don't step out of their comfort zone?
  I often say that my definition of a university is a place where 
controversy should run rampant. At the University of Chicago, that 
means noting that ``diversity of opinion and background is a 
fundamental strength of our community.''
  Both opinion and background are very important, and it defeats the 
point to just have the one. Our universities cannot just have just a 
veneer of diversity; the whole point of bringing in students of 
different backgrounds is to get different points of view. That aim is 
meaningless if all students who go to the college believe the same 
things.
  I have introduced several bills to provide transparency for 
prospective students. My bills focus on transparency of cost, but in 
many ways openness about a university's values are just as important.
  So I congratulate former President Zimmer, who is doing just that and 
putting his university's values on his sleeve. If some schools keep 
cracking down on free speech and invited speakers, then the free market 
will send their students elsewhere. That is because I don't think all 
kids want to go to a school where they will never be challenged and 
where their ideals will always be reaffirmed.
  I am happy to see projects like the University of Austin, a newly 
founded college dedicated to free speech principles.
  So, in conclusion, it takes time to start new institutions. Instead, 
we need people to stand up in the colleges that we already have. And I 
hope others will join me in doing just that.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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