America’s Best University President Has Died
Creating an expectation of a free speech culture on campus requires courage.
On May 23, 2023, Robert J. Zimmer, chancellor emeritus of the University of Chicago, passed away. His wife, Shadi Bartsch-Zimmer, eminent classics scholar and director of the university's Institution on the Formation of Knowledge, was by his side throughout the course of the virulent brain cancer that took his life.
For 15 years, as president of the University of Chicago, Zimmer was peerless in his unwavering dedication to protecting academic freedom and free speech. He was also widely acclaimed for elevating the university’s standing as one of the country's most highly selective, making education more accessible to a diverse group of students, and developing leaders in higher education.
It's no wonder that the University of Chicago consistently ranks at the top of the list with respect to its free speech climate. But while leadership is necessary, it is not sufficient to create a free speech culture. Preventing “cancel culture” requires courage.
As I recently wrote:
“Cancel culture” is a misnomer. The culture is not one of cancellation. It is a culture of fear. Cancellations are a method of intimidation. The mechanism is what French political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville called “soft despotism.”
Under despotic rule, more people remain silent than speak up. The same is true of soft despotism. And yet, even under Totalitarian rule, some refuse to conform. Nadya Tolokonnikova, a “Pussy Riot” performance artist, is one.
More to come…