Free Expression at Yale

This message was sent to faculty, students, and staff at Yale on August 29, 2025.

Dear students, faculty, and staff,

As we begin the fall semester, I write with a reminder of Yale’s commitment to being a welcoming 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, offices, residences and all the spaces in which we learn, live, work, and engage across the university. We also value our shared experiences across the Yale community: we do our best work when we feel valued, respected, and connected to each other.

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 or harassment. Policies related to free expression and gatherings and events on campus are on our Free Expression at Yale web page for easy reference. 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. All community members are expected to be familiar with and observe these regulations.

When free expression crosses the line into discrimination or harassment, the university will respond in accordance with its policies. You received an email on August 1 that outlined these updated policies and procedures, and the training related to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct. Included in that email are links to the required training for all students, faculty, and staff to be completed by September 15. 

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. 

Best wishes for a happy and successful fall term, 

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