UW Freedom of Expression website now live

This article was updated Tuesday, October 10, 2023, with the information supplied that the website is now live. You can view the website at the following link: http://www.uwyo.edu/president/freedom-of-expression/index.html

At the Board of Trustees (BOT) September 2023 meeting, University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel shared the recommendations of the Freedom of Expression, Intellectual Freedom, and Constructive Dialogue Working Group.

The working group which was composed of a diverse set of UW administrators, faculty, staff and an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees, met weekly throughout the Spring 2023 semester, and developed the set of recommendations that are present in their executive summary published on June 7, 2023. 

The final deadline for public comment on the working groups recommendations fell on Sept. 8, 2023, just two weeks before the Board of Trustees regular meeting on Sept. 22, 2023. 

As of now those comments are not publicly available, but according to Dr. Martha McCaughey, an adjunct professor for UW’s Department of Criminal Justice & Sociology and co-chair of the working group, a website is currently in production and is set to be finished and published by Wednesday, Oct. 11.

McCaughey says the website will include a compilation of the public comments the working group received on their recommendations, as well as the statement of principles that is outlined in the group’s previously published executive summary.

The outlined principles would bring about a new ‘academic mission’ for UW and seek to articulate UW’s core commitments to the areas of institutional neutrality, intellectual freedom, academic freedom, freedom of expression, and civil discourse and constructive dialogue. 

Additionally the working group has recommended a revising and adoption of new policies surrounding curriculum approval processes, the Student Code of Conduct, and campus sponsored events like speakers, visitors, art exhibits, etc. among other proposed policy changes.

In an institutional communication put out by the Bureau of Mines on Thursday, Sept. 28, President Seidel acknowledged both the hard work of the Freedom of Expression, Intellectual Freedom, and Constructive Dialogue Working Group and noted that “some specific situations have arisen that have tested the bounds of free expression and constructive dialogue here at our university.”

President Seidel specifically referenced the recently approved injunction that allows Todd Schmidt to continue his tabling privileges at the Wyoming Union, and the university’s decision to not challenge said injunction.

He also stated that the university will continue to allow a diverse set of speakers and events to continue to be present on campus, specifically citing an upcoming student-organized drag show planned for the upcoming Shepard Symposium on Social Justice, and a speaking event hosting conservative speaker Riley Gaines for UW’s student chapter of Turning Point USA.

President Seidel reiterated that while there are legal limitations to speech, a person’s offense or uncomfortability does not clear that bar. Despite that, he also affirmed that should the need arise he will “speak in response to speech that is objectionable from every reasonable perspective.” while also attempting to remain true to the framework of institutional neutrality.

He stated that the working group, including himself and co-chair McCaughey will be working over the 2023 fall semester in a focused and sustained manner to foster the culture of free expression and respectful discourse on campus that the working group has outlined in their recommendations.

This will include the previously mentioned website, which will be used to communicate with the UW community, and maintain an up to date status report of the important planned actions, those being undertaken, and a framework for how to achieve those goals.  

President Seidel rounded his letter off by stating “We live during a time when political and social divisiveness seems to be tearing apart the very fabric of our society. We can’t let that happen. Nor can we depart from the principle of free expression that has been part of our nation’s foundation from the beginning. . .”