AFA Urges SFSC to Reinstate Professor Fired Over Literature Assignment Letter warns that punishment for course-relevant material sends “a chilling message” Princeton, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) has sent a letter urging South Florida State College to...
AFA News
AFA Urges Hofstra to End Harassment Investigation of Professor
AFA Urges Hofstra to End Harassment Investigation of Professor Letter warns the investigation threatens faculty speech and shared governance Princeton, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance today sent a letter to Hofstra University urging it to end its investigation of...
Spring Update
Spring Update from the AFA As summer approaches, we want to take a moment to update you on the latest developments in our movement for academic freedom. New Guidance Statement on IRBs In March, we released a new guidance statement urging universities and their...
AFA Releases Guidance Statement on Institutional Review Boards
AFA Releases Guidance Statement on Institutional Review Boards Statement calls mission creep of IRBs an “ongoing threat to academic freedom” Princeton, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance today released a new guidance statement urging universities and colleges, and...
Year-End Update 2025
Year-End Update from the AFA As 2025 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on the year behind us, when the threats facing academic freedom evolved dramatically. Here is how we fought to defend freedom of thought, inquiry, expression, and discussion on...
October 2025
October Update from the AFA Annual Conference in Princeton We had another successful conference last month in Princeton, gathering around 20 participants for interesting discussions and presentations on a range of topics. For example, David Rabban presented on the...
September 2025
September Update from the AFA We are off to a busy start to the new semester, with one new public case and several requests under consideration. The speech climate on campuses has grown increasingly contentious following the recent political violence and the ongoing...
AFA Sends Letter to Texas State After Firing of Professor
AFA Sends Letter to Texas State After Firing of Professor Prof. Thomas Alter fired after speaking at socialism conference Princeton, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance today sent a letter to Texas State University after it terminated a professor over his speech at a...
AFA Statement on the Assassination of Charlie Kirk
AFA Statement on the Assassination of Charlie Kirk The assassination of Charlie Kirk was an attack on freedom of speech and, therefore, an attack on a vital practice of American universities. The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) condemns this heinous murder. Mr. Kirk...
July 2025
July Update from the AFA We hope everyone is enjoying their summer months. As we look ahead to a new academic year, the AFA continues to support faculty in ongoing disputes while preparing for the new challenges that inevitably await. July was a quieter month on our...
June 2025
June Update from the AFA Favorable Court Ruling for Dr. Joyner Dr. Michael Joyner’s case against the Mayo Clinic, which is funded and supported by the AFA, has been approved by a judge to move forward to a jury trial in September. The Third Judicial Court of Olmsted...
AFA Announces Favorable Court Ruling for Dr. Michael Joyner
AFA Announces Favorable Court Ruling for Dr. Michael Joyner Court allows case against the Mayo Clinic to proceed to jury trial PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today announced that Dr. Michael Joyner’s case against the Mayo Clinic, which is funded...
May 2025
May Update from the AFA Defending a Professor Punished for a Tweet The AFA sent a letter to Columbia University this month in favor of Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman, a tenured professor and department chair who was punished in 2022 over an instance of extramural speech. In...
April 2025
April Update from the AFA Defending a Professor Fired Over His Nationality On April 3, we sent a letter to the Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida regarding a professor’s firing from New College of Florida. The college reportedly terminated...
AFA Speaks Out on Firing of Chinese Professor from Florida College
AFA Speaks Out on Firing of Chinese Professor from Florida College New College of Florida fired Kevin Wang over fears his employment violated law PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today sent a letter to the Board of Governors of the State University...
March 2025
March Update from the AFA Speaking Out on Deportations The AFA this week sent a statement regarding the deportation of non-citizen scholars and students. This statement followed the Trump administration’s decision to deport or revoke the visas of hundreds of...
AFA Statement on the Deportation of Noncitizen Scholars and Students
AFA Statement on the Deportation of Noncitizen Scholars and Students Fear of deportation poses “grave threat to the mission of American universities” PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today issued a statement regarding the deportation of noncitizen...
February 2025
February Update from the AFA The AFA continues to monitor and provide legal resources in several cases, including Dr. Michael Joyner’s case against the Mayo Clinic and Kenderick Morales's against Spelman College. Last month, we helped support a professor at a public...
January 2025
January Update from the AFA Thank you to all of our members and supporters who donated for our 2024 end of year campaign. While we didn’t reach our $100,000 goal, we got close thanks to your generosity. We’re coming off of an excellent year in 2024 in which we won six...
November 2024
November Update from the AFA Today marks “Giving Tuesday” and we hope that you will consider the AFA if you are donating to a cause this year. As we approach our fifth year, the AFA has awarded over $400,000 in direct funding for legal assistance. This total has...
October 2024
October Update from the AFA The AFA continues our work on several existing cases and is also exploring additional requests for assistance. In the meantime, below are updates from the month of October. Keith Whittington Sits Down with John Tomasi How does political...
September 2024
September Update from the AFA Wins on Institutional Neutrality In February of this year, we began a partnership with FIRE and the Heterodox Academy to call for more universities to adopt policies of institutional neutrality on social and political issues. We renewed...
AFA Statement on Penn’s Suspension of Amy Wax
AFA Statement on Penn’s Suspension of Amy Wax Penn’s punishment of Wax is a “manifest betrayal of its own commitment to its faculty” PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance today issued a statement regarding the University of Pennsylvania’s decision to suspend...
August 2024
August Update from the AFA Controversy Over AAUP Statement As many of you know, the American Association of University Professors came under fire this month after it declared academic boycotts to be “legitimate tactical responses” and “not in themselves violations of...
July 2024
July Update from the AFA Our Call to End DEI Statements in Grant Funding On July 18, the AFA released a major new guidance statement calling on federal agencies that fund research in STEMM fields to desist from requiring DEI statements in their grant proposals....
AFA Calls for End to Required Diversity Statements in Federal Grant Funding
AFA Calls for End to Required Diversity Statements in Federal Grant Funding New guidance statement warns of the dangers of compelled speech to research integrity and academic freedom PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance today called on federal agencies that...
AFA Announces Favorable Court Ruling for Dr. Michael Joyner
AFA Announces Favorable Court Ruling for Dr. Michael Joyner Court Denied Most of the Mayo Clinic’s Motion to Dismiss Joyner’s Claims PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance today announced a court ruling in favor of Dr. Michael Joyner in his case against the...
June 2024
June Update from the AFA Successful Resolution of Case at USC On June 20, we announced the favorable resolution of our case in defense of John Strauss, a professor at the University of Southern California who was accused of harassment by student protestors after he...
AFA Announces Successful Resolution of Case at USC
AFA Announces Successful Resolution of Case at USC USC Dismisses Case Against Professor John Strauss Regarding Exchange with Protestors PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance today announced the favorable resolution of its case in defense of John Strauss, a...
May 2024
May Update from the AFA The AFA has been hard at work throughout May on our existing cases, as well as reviewing several additional support requests from professors under fire for speech or conduct. While we took up a new case this week, the details are not yet...
AFA Urges Penn to Reject Proposed Sanctions Against Amy Wax
AFA Urges Penn to Reject Proposed Sanctions Against Amy Wax Letter Urges Faculty Senate Committee to Reject Proposed Punishments PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance today sent a letter to the University of Pennsylvania’s Senate Committee on Academic Freedom...
April 2024
April Update from the AFA New Hearing in Dr. Joyner’s Case Against the Mayo Clinic On April 8th, Dr. Michael Joyner’s legal team, which is funded by the AFA, squared off in court against the Mayo Clinic in a new pretrial hearing. The hearing came in response to the...
March 2024
March Update from the AFA The AFA celebrated its third anniversary this month with a number of new actions on behalf of faculty under fire for protected speech. In addition to the below mentioned cases, we are currently investigating three new incidents to determine...
New Memo Filed with Court in Doctor’s Lawsuit Against Mayo Clinic
New Memo Filed with Court in Doctor’s Lawsuit Against Mayo Clinic Memo Urges Court to Deny Mayo’s Partial Motion to Dismiss PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance today announced a new memorandum filed with the District Court in the state of Minnesota in Dr....
AFA Urges Columbia to End Investigation into Professor’s Political Statements
AFA Urges Columbia to End Investigation into Professor’s Political Statements Jewish professor investigated for criticizing activity of pro-Palestine student groups PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today sent a letter to Columbia University...
AFA Urges Texas Tech to End Suspension of Professor Over Social Media Posts
AFA Urges Texas Tech to End Suspension of Professor Over Social Media Posts Professor fired for posting statements critical of Israel and the war in Gaza PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today sent a letter to Texas Tech University regarding its...
February 2024
February Update from the AFA Throughout February, the AFA has continued providing financial support in several cases, the details of which are currently private. We are in the process of reviewing several additional support requests from professors under fire for...
AFA joins with FIRE and HxA to Call for Institutional Neutrality
AFA joins with FIRE and HxA to Call for Institutional Neutrality The organizations sent an open letter following an increase in university political statements PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) joined with the Foundation for Individual Rights and...
January 2024
January Update from the AFA The AFA is off to a busy start in 2024. Here are some updates from January. Cases and Statements The AFA is currently providing financial support in four cases, the details of which are currently private. We are in the process of reviewing...
December 2023
December Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance Dear Members and Friends, It’s been a busy 2023 at the AFA and in the broader world of academic freedom. The events of October 7 and resulting controversies on campuses have brought our issues into the international...
November 2023
November Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance It’s been a busy month at the AFA and we’re grateful for your continued support as we advance our mission. This Tuesday was Giving Tuesday, but if you missed it, please consider donating now to support the cause of...
AFA Urges College to Reinstate Professor Terminated Over Grading Practices
AFA Urges College to Reinstate Professor Terminated Over Grading Practices Spelman College removes professor from tenure track after student complaints PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance sent a letter to Spelman College denouncing its decision to terminate...
Doctor Sues Mayo Clinic Over Academic Freedom Violations
Doctor Sues Mayo Clinic Over Academic Freedom Violations Clinic punished Dr. Michael Joyner over expert comments to press PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today announced that Michael Joyner, M.D. is suing the Mayo Clinic College and two of its...
October 2023
October Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance The AFA is continuing to fight on behalf of members in academic freedom disputes and we expect to have updates on cases soon. In addition to our casework, here are some other activities from this past month. The...
September 2023
September Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance Promoting the Princeton Principles Last month, the AFA helped call attention to the release of the Princeton Principles for a Campus Culture of Free Inquiry, which were issued by the James Madison Program in American...
August 2023
August Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance As we enter the Fall semester, the AFA is hard at work defending faculty under fire for protected speech. We are working behind the scenes to support professors and are exploring getting involved in additional cases. ...
July 2023
July Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance Calling Out Texas A&M Earlier today, we sent a letter to Texas A&M regarding its suspension and investigation of a faculty member over comments critical of Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. According...
AFA Sends Letter to Texas A&M Regarding Censure of Professor
AFA Sends Letter to Texas A&M Regarding Censure of Professor University suspended and investigated Prof. Joy Alonzo for criticizing a state official PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today sent a letter to Texas A&M regarding reports that it...
June 2023
June Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance It may be summer, but we’ve had a busy month at the AFA. Below is a summary of our key activities from June. Taking on the Mayo Clinic On June 6, the AFA sent a letter to the Mayo Clinic denouncing its treatment of Dr....
AFA Files Amicus Brief on Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act”
AFA Files Amicus Brief on Florida’s Unconstitutional “Stop WOKE Act” Brief Filed with 11th Circuit calls Act “unconstitutionally vague and overbroad” PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the...
AFA Denounces Mayo Clinic After It Disciplines Doctor for Transgender Comments
AFA Denounces Mayo Clinic After It Disciplines Doctor for Transgender Comments Doctor punished after comments to New York Times relating to his scholarly expertise PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today sent a letter to the Mayo Clinic denouncing...
May 2023
May Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance We hope everyone had a successful end to their spring semester. As we enter the summer months, the AFA will remain active and engaged, continuing to fund cases and monitor any new academic freedom controversies on...
April 2023
April Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance As we near the end of the spring semester, the AFA is hard at work defending faculty under fire for protected speech. We are actively supporting the legal funding of five new cases and exploring getting involved in...
March 2023
March Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance Marking our Two Year Anniversary March 8th marked two years since the launch of the Academic Freedom Alliance. We’ve grown our membership and expanded our outreach and involvement in myriad ways. While the AFA has sent...
February 2023
February Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance Newest Additions to our Interview Series This month, we released two new interviews as part of our regular series of conversations with leading scholars on academic freedom issues. The first is a conversation with...
January 2023
January Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance The Academic Freedom Alliance is off to a busy start in 2023. Below is a summary of our key actions from this month. Letter to Hamline University On January 2, the AFA sent a letter to Hamline University regarding its...
AFA Calls for an End to “Divisive Concepts” Legislation
AFA Calls for an End to “Divisive Concepts” Legislation New wave of state level proposals seeks to ban instruction on race and gender topics PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today released a statement urging policymakers to refrain from adopting...
AFA Sends Letter to Hamline University Over Dismissal of Professor
AFA Sends Letter to Hamline University Over Dismissal of Professor Professor fired for showing medieval painting of Muhammad in session on Islamic art PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today sent a letter to Hamline University regarding its handling...
December 2022
December Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance We hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season and resting up before the spring semester. It’s been a busy year for the Academic Freedom Alliance and we’re grateful for all of the support, involvement, and continued...
November 2022
November Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance Dear AFA Members and Friends, We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We’ve had another successful month of getting our message out to new audiences, and we could use your help to continue advancing that...
October 2022
Monthly Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance Dear AFA Members and Friends, We hope everyone is enjoying their fall semesters. We’ve had another busy month at the AFA. Below are some of our activities since our last update. Statement on NYU Controversy: On...
September 2022
Monthly Update from the Academic Freedom Alliance Welcome to the AFA’s monthly newsletter, our newest way of keeping members and friends informed of our efforts to promote and defend academic freedom. With this month’s newsletter, we offer updates on our activities to...
AFA Statement on NYU Prof. Maitland Jones
AFA Releases Statement on NYU Prof. Maitland Jones NYU refused to rehire Jones over his professional judgement in grading PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today released a statement on the non-renewal of employment for Prof. Maitland Jones of New...
AFA Sends Letter to University of Idaho on Abortion Guidance
AFA Sends Letter to U. of Idaho Regarding Classroom Discussion of Abortion Letter expresses concern over guidance that faculty should remain neutral on the topic PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today sent a letter to the University of Idaho...
AFA Calls for An End to Required Diversity Statements
AFA Calls for An End to Required Diversity Statements Statement says forced pledges of conformity “threaten to impose a suffocating orthodoxy” PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today released a statement urging institutions of higher education to...
AFA Sends Letter to Penn on Amy Wax
AFA Sends Letter to Penn on Amy Wax Letter calls for end to consideration of “major sanction” against Wax PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today sent a letter to the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in defense of Professor Amy Wax, Robert Mundheim...
Remembering John Hardy Lewis
Remembering John Hardy Lewis The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) joins with friends, family, and the legal community in remembering John Hardy Lewis, a member of our Legal Advisory Council, a distinguished attorney, and an admired member of his community. Mr. Lewis...
AFA Sends Letter to St. Olaf College in Minnesota
AFA Sends Letter to St. Olaf College in Minnesota Letter calls out a “grievous assault on the intellectual climate of the college” PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today sent a letter to St. Olaf College regarding its decision to rescind Professor...
AFA Sends Letter to Princeton About Ongoing Retaliation Against Professor
AFA Sends Letter to Princeton About Ongoing Retaliation Against Professor Letter criticizes the continued labeling of Prof. Joshua Katz as a racist PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today sent a letter to Princeton University regarding its continued...
AFA Welcomes Nadine Strossen to its Legal Advisory Council
Strossen is a former President of the ACLU and expert on free speech issues
AFA Sends Letter to San Diego State on Professor’s Suspension
AFA Sends Letter to San Diego State on Professor’s Suspension University suspended Professor for mentioning racial epithets in class on race PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) sent a letter to San Diego State University over its suspension of...
AFA Sends Letter to University of Dayton on Speaker Disinvitation
AFA Sends Letter to University of Dayton on Speaker Disinvitation University disinvited speaker over her position on abortion PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) sent a letter to the University of Dayton on its recent decision to disinvite Dr. Tlaleng...
Letter to Concordia Wisconsin on Gregory Schulz
Letter to Concordia Wisconsin on Gregory Schulz Rev. Dr. Schulz suspended for criticizing university’s “wokeness” PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) sent a letter today to Concordia University Wisconsin regarding Rev. Dr. Gregory Schulz, a tenured...
Statement on Texas Proposals to Eliminate Tenure
AFA statement says the proposals “strike at the very heart of the academic enterprise”
AFA Sends Letter to SUNY Fredonia Regarding Stephen Kershnar
Letter calls on university to issue a statement reaffirming Kershnar’s academic freedom
AFA Sends Letter to Collin College on Michael Phillips
Letter calls for reversal of decision not to renew Phillips’ employment contract
AFA Sends Letter to Georgetown Law on Ilya Shapiro
Letter states that Shapiro should face no formal consequences for controversial comments
AFA Sends Letter to Penn on Amy Wax Case
Letter states that Wax should face no formal consequences for controversial comments
AFA Sends Letter to LSU Defending Prof. Robert Mann
Louisiana AG called on Prof. Mann to be disciplined for tweeting criticisms
AFA Case Updates
The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) today issued the following updates on three cases in which it is involved.
AFA Sends Letter to University of Rochester on Professor’s Use of N-Word
Letter defends Professor David Bleich, who was suspended for using the word in class
AFA Sends Two Letters Regarding Academic Freedom Cases
Letters address controversies at the University of Michigan and Indiana University
AFA Statement on University of Florida Policy Reversal
AFA applauds university’s decision as a victory for academic freedom
AFA Statement on Mandatory Statements
AFA Statement on Mandatory Statements AFA: Universities must not mandate that faculty embrace certain statements of values PRINCETON, NJ – Today, the Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) issued a statement regarding the rising incidence of universities requiring faculty to...
AFA Sends Follow Up Letter to University of Florida After Partial Reversal
AFA Sends Follow Up Letter to University of Florida After Partial Reversal Letter comments on University’s decision to allow professors to testify on a “pro bono” basis PRINCETON, NJ – Today, the Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) sent a follow up letter to the...
AFA Denounces University of Florida for Blocking Professors from Serving as Witnesses in Case Against the State
AFA Denounces University of Florida for Blocking Professors from Serving as Witnesses in Case Against the State Letter calls decision a “serious violation” of academic freedom PRINCETON, NJ – Today, the Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) sent a letter to the University...
AFA Membership Surpasses 400
The Academic Freedom Alliance announced that its membership has grown to 406 faculty members across the United States. Since launching in March 2021 with more than 200 founding members, the AFA has continued to add a diverse contingent of new members in a rolling invitation and review process overseen by its Membership Committee.
AFA Condemns Suspension of Michigan Professor Bright Sheng
AFA Condemns Suspension of Michigan Professor Bright Sheng In a letter, the AFA criticizes suspension as “egregious violation” of academic freedom PRINCETON, NJ – This week, the Academic Freedom Alliance sent a letter to the president and provost of the University of...
AFA Sends Follow-Up Letter to MIT on Speaker Disinvitation
Letter responds to MIT provost’s note to faculty defending disinvitation of Prof. Dorian Abbot
AFA Sends Letter to MIT Condemning Disinvitation of Speaker, Urging Reversal
AFA Sends Letter to MIT Condemning Disinvitation of Speaker, Urging Reversal Letter: Disinvitation of Professor Dorian Abbot from prestigious lecture “represents an egregious violation of the principles of academic freedom” PRINCETON, NJ – Today, the Academic Freedom...
AFA Defends Air Force Academy Professor Amid Controversy Over Critical Race Theory
AFA Defends Air Force Academy Professor Amid Controversy Over Critical Race Theory PRINCETON, NJ -- Today, the Academic Freedom Alliance released the following statement in support of the rights of Air Force Academy professor Lynne Chandler Garcia, who has come under...
After AFA Intervention, Two Universities Decline to Sanction Professors Over Speech
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 5, 2021Contact: press@academicfreedom.org After AFA Intervention, Two Universities Decline to Sanction Professors Over Speech The Universities of San Diego and Rhode Island abandoned investigations of...
Academic Freedom Alliance Stands with USD Law Professor in China Controversy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 22, 2021 Contact: press@academicfreedom.org Academic Freedom Alliance Stands with USD Law Professor in China Controversy PRINCETON, NJ – The Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) released a statement of solidarity today regarding the case of...
200+ Faculty Across U.S. Launch Non-Partisan Academic Freedom Alliance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 8, 2021 Contact: press@academicfreedom.org 200+ Faculty Across U.S. Launch Non-Partisan Academic Freedom Alliance Organization will offer solidarity, legal support on free speech cases regardless of ideology ...
Learn More About the Academic Freedom Alliance
Individuals at academic institutions should not fear suppression or retaliation for teaching, writing, or speaking. We encourage you to join the movement in supporting the flourishing of intellectual life and the pursuit of knowledge and truth at institutions of higher learning.