Free Expression - A Message from Secretary and Vice President for University Life Kimberly Goff-Crews

Dear students, faculty, and staff,

As we prepare to begin the academic year, it is my pleasure to welcome new and continuing members of our university community.

I also write with a reminder of Yale’s commitment to a diverse, vibrant, and respectful community in which free expression is a fundamental value and a shared responsibility.

The free exchange of ideas, through open dialogue and open minds, is essential to our goal of excellence in our classrooms, laboratories, and offices and in all the spaces in which we live, work, and play across the university. Equally important is the understanding that members of our university community can engage with one another in environments in which they feel connected and valued.

The university has a set of policies and resources intended to support free expression; to articulate reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions for expressive activities; and to make clear that Yale does not permit discrimination and harassment. Policies related to free expression and gatherings on campus are now consolidated on a new web page for easy reference. We will update the page regularly. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with these policies and to write to me at secretary.office@yale.edu if you have questions or suggestions.

When free expression crosses the line into discrimination or harassment, the university will respond. If you have concerns about discrimination or harassment, I encourage you to report them to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility and to seek university resources for support.

To support increased dialogue and engagement, additional resources and programming will soon be available through “Cultivating Conversation,” an initiative of Belonging at Yale that will provide tools, information, and opportunities for all members of the Yale community to engage and connect with civility and mutual respect. Look for more information and a new Cultivating Conversation web page and event calendar in the coming weeks.

Conflicts and events across the globe may have very personal and painful implications for individuals on our campus. Embracing our diverse community, committing to civil discourse, and engaging varied perspectives and backgrounds with compassion and understanding will sustain us through challenging times and result in a stronger, more excellent Yale.

Best wishes for a happy and successful fall term,

Kimberly M. Goff-Crews
Secretary and Vice President for University Life