Freedom of Expression
The free exchange of ideas underpins everything we do as a university — educating new generations of global citizens, pursuing novel research and scholarship, and advancing the public good. We encourage Cornellians everywhere to challenge personal beliefs, to consider new ideas and unfamiliar perspectives, and to foster discussion around core freedoms for democracy and higher education. Join us as we explore the history, significance, and challenges of these foundations of the Cornell experience through creative and scholarly discussions and events.
“Freedom of expression is the bedrock of democracy, just as academic freedom is the bedrock of higher education. These twin freedoms are at the heart of our core values, and have always been fundamental to Cornell’s excellence and its identity.”
— President Martha E. Pollack
University Values
From our founding, Cornell has stood for free and open inquiry and expression. Learning flourishes in an environment where diverse ideas are presented and debated without hindrance. As a university we prize freedom of expression just as we honor our commitment to being a community of belonging.
Explore
Resources
Instruction for students on First Amendment principles and how to defend clients’ constitutional rights.
Creating community across difference through critical dialogue in the areas of human connection, social identity, intergroup communication, and strategic change.
Campus and community support for international scholars, students, and human rights defenders whose work endangers them in their home countries.
A curated collection of readings, films, study guides, and resources that explore the significance, history, and challenges of freedom of expression.
An assortment of books to engage with ideas of freedom of expression and academic freedom.
Resources to explore the legal underpinnings of freedom of expression, including an annotated guide to the First Amendment’s free speech clause.
University Voices
Reflections on
Freedom of Expression
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Cornell Council for the Arts
Freedom of Expression Exhibition
Student, faculty, and alumni artists explored the power of the arts to connect with one another and deepen our understanding of the world at an exhibition held at Cornell AAP throughout March 2024.