December 1, 2022 - New Tolerance Campaign

New Tolerance Campaign and FIRE Join Forces to Rally Grassroots Action in Support of Free Speech at Emerson College

admin / December 1, 2022

Presidential Search Committee to hear from everyday Americans requesting a pledge to support viewpoint diversity from the school’s next leader Washington, DC & Philadelphia, PA — The New Tolerance Campaign (NTC) today announced a partnership with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) on a grassroots campaign calling for a commitment to freedom of speech from the next president of Emerson College in Boston. Students, alumni, and concerned citizens can send messages directly to members of the Emerson College Presidential Search Committee requesting a public pledge to uphold viewpoint diversity standards from whomever is selected as the school’s next leader. “It is encouraging that Emerson is making free expression a top priority as it selects a new president,” said FIRE Program Officer Graham Piro. “However, the new president will have significant work to do to correct the college’s treatment of student groups like Turning Point USA. Emerson makes strong promises of free expression to its students, and NTC and FIRE will be there every step of the way to ensure the college honors the promises it makes.” Both NTC and FIRE have been active in pushing back against illiberal activity by Emerson administrators , including the college’s de-recognizing of its Turning Point USA chapter for criticizing the Chinese government. Emerson’s actions over the past year-and-a-half earned the college a place on FIRE’s 2022 list of the “10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech.” “The New Tolerance Campaign is honored to link arms with FIRE, activating grassroots supporters with a reasonable request: a commitment from Emerson’s next president to uphold the school’s stated values,” New Tolerance Campaign President Gregory T. Angelo added. “By making the voices of alumni and everyday Americans heard by the Presidential Search Committee, we hope to encourage the selection of a chief executive who understands the necessity of freedom of expression at Emerson, and its value in American culture.” About the New Tolerance Campaign: The New Tolerance Campaign (NTC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit watchdog organization mobilizing Americans to confront intolerance double-standards by establishment institutions, civil rights groups, universities, and socially conscious brands. NTC campaigns empower everyday Americans to hold accountable self-proclaimed arbiters of tolerance when they betray their own stated values. Visit newtolerance.org for more info. About FIRE: The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE recognizes that colleges and universities play a vital role in preserving free thought within a free society. To this end, it places a special emphasis on defending the individual rights of students and faculty members on our nation’s campuses, including freedom of speech, freedom of association, due process, legal equality, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience.

Past Campaigns

Emerson College Must Appoint a President Who Supports ‘Diverse Ideas’ and ‘Free Expression’

admin / December 1, 2022

University presidents wield substantial power to promote — or limit — free expression on American college campuses. The future president of Emerson College in Boston, MA, is no exception: Whoever assumes this role will inherit the challenge of protecting student free speech on a campus with an unfortunate track record of limiting it. Over the past year and a half, Emerson has been embroiled in substantial controversy for suppressing student expression. Despite receiving multiple letters from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) listing concerns about its actions, Emerson has doubled and tripled down on campus censorship. Emerson’s own Community Standards affirm that “[a]s an institution dedicated to Communication and the Arts, the First Amendment of the US Constitution is of high importance.” The college’s actions over the past 18 months, however, call that commitment into question, even earning Emerson a place on FIRE’s 2022 list of the “10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech.” Now, as Emerson searches for a new university president, its Presidential Search Prospectus describes “[a]ppreciation for diverse ideas and the free expression of them” as a “non-negotiable value” underpinning the college’s search. To ensure that Emerson holds fast to this commitment, the New Tolerance Campaign is partnering with FIRE to empower students, alumni, and concerned citizens to voice their support for a pro-free speech president at Emerson. Tell Emerson’s Presidential Search Committee to fulfill its duty and appoint a president who supports free expression! UPDATE (01/12/23): Emerson College announced the appointment of Dr. Jay M. Bernhardt as the school’s next president. Our allies at FIRE are vetting Dr. Bernhardt for his record on support for different views and free speech on campus. Check back for updates!