In February, ACTA sent a letter to Tennessee Senator Jeff Yarbro in support of Senate Bill 1300, which sought to protect free speech on campus by declaring that student journalists at public institutions of higher education have the right to exercise freedom of speech and freedom of the press in institution-sponsored media. Text of the letter can be found below.
I wanted to reach out to you in light of your recent work on SB 1300. As a nonprofit organization committed to the preservation of academic freedom, excellence, and accountability, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) appreciates your efforts to safeguard the rights of student journalists. We share your sentiment that rationale debate and the free exchange of ideas are the lifeblood of both higher education, and our democracy.
In this spirit I would like to offer our aid if there is any way we can be of assistance. For over 25 years, ACTA has worked with trustees and public officials across the country to ensure that all Americans can receive a high-quality education at an affordable price. We have testified before various state legislatures and commissions in states including Florida, New Jersey, Alaska, Georgia, Montana, Texas, and Pennsylvania, on matters such as curricular quality, academic assessment, and institutional accountability.
If there is anything we can do to help your efforts to support SB 1300, or in any matter in the future, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.
We are immensely grateful for your commitment to American higher education, and I look forward to hearing from you in the future.
Sincerely,
Armand Alacbay
Vice President of Trustee & Government Affairs
A recent report by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) recently found that the University of Pittsburgh has failed to protect free speech on its campus, with most students being afraid to speak up in support of their beliefs.
ACTA’s Hero of Intellectual Freedom award was presented to Roland G. Fryer, Jr., professor of economics at Harvard University.
Censorship is ugly behavior, whether it comes from the right or the left. Fortunately, it is most often self-defeating, but it is a warning sign of deeper pathology. So we see in the matter of philosopher, filmmaker, and humanitarian Bernard-Henri Lévy’s new book, Israel Alone.
Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with alumni, donors, trustees, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives an intellectually rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price.
Discover MoreSign up to receive updates on the most pressing issues facing our college campuses.