Atlas, Ferguson, and Hanson: On Free Speech at Stanford
Regardless of the outcome of current and future deliberations about the relationship between Stanford and Hoover, as individuals we now seek meaningful reassurances that these unwarranted attacks on our reputations will no longer be legitimized by some in the Faculty Senate and disseminated by the student newspaper. If Hoover fellows continue to be targets for character assassination, it will be clear to us what the true nature of free speech at Stanford has become and not only to us.
Last year, Stanford sadly placed 35th out of 55 in the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education s College Free Speech rankings. In this regard, we note the relevant warning of the prior Provost, Professor John Etchemendy, Over the years, I have watched a steady and frightening evolution of the University my University into an intellectually, increasingly homogeneous place.
We agree, and ask the greater Stanford community of which we are indeed full members to ask themselves: Does the wind of freedom still blow at Stanford? Or is it the stale breath of ideological conformism and intimidation that we detect?
Scott Atlas, MD, Robert Wesson Senior Fellow
Niall Ferguson, DPhil, Milbank Family Senior Fellow
Victor Davis Hanson, PhD, Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow