We are pleased to post the following guest commentary from Sydney McKee, an Intern with the Interactivity Foundation. She is a pre-med major at Kent State.
On May 14, 2026, the University of Delaware hosted Jeffrey Rosen, CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, delivered a keynote address, Academic Freedom: Principles, Protections, and Responsibilities.
Afterwards our IF Trustee and Fellow, Timothy Shaffer, Director of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Ithaca Initiative at the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration and the SNF Chair of Civil Discourse, moderated a panel discussion. Dr. Shaffer was joined on stage by University of Delaware professors Dominique Baker and Jennifer Lambe, as well as Rosen.
As a college student at Kent State and an intern with the Interactivity Foundation, I was grateful for the opportunity to attend. Having spent the past year studying on a college campus and examining censorship in an honors colloquium, I found the discussion insightful.
Jeffrey Rosen spoke about the relationship between free speech and the pursuit of truth. He argued that truth emerges through reasoned debate among free individuals. Genuine persuasion comes not through coercion but through freedom of conscience and the careful evaluation of evidence. This freedom, he suggested, supports accountability, public discussion, and the ongoing search for truth. Education and academic freedom play a critical role in preparing future generations to participate thoughtfully in democratic life.
Rosen’s ideas led naturally to a central question: What is academic freedom?
Through Shaffer’s questions, the panelists explored how academic freedom functions within educational institutions and society more broadly. The panel described it as a commitment to open inquiry that acknowledged the limits of our knowledge while encouraging continued exploration.
Discussions of politics, history, rights, and other controversial subjects can sometimes result in political pressure or penalties for those who raise difficult questions.
Academic freedom, however, is not about persuading others to adopt a particular viewpoint. Rather, it emphasizes respect for differing perspectives and a willingness to engage with ideas that challenge our assumptions.
This is precisely the mindset and values that the Interactivity Foundation teaches and adopts throughout our programs.
Such engagement requires openness, humility, and empathy. Academic institutions are uniquely positioned to help students develop these habits by creating opportunities for meaningful discussion across differences. One of the panel’s most memorable conclusions was the importance of learning how to disagree without being disagreeable.
The panel discussion also highlighted the fragility of academic freedom. When institutions fail to uphold the principles they publicly endorse, tensions can emerge between stated values and actual practices. In times of crisis, meaningful reflection becomes more difficult.
The panelists emphasized that strong habits of dialogue and collaboration must be developed before moments of conflict arise. Ongoing engagement with differing viewpoints helps build mutual understanding and strengthens the foundations of academic freedom.
At the Interactivity Foundation, we share this commitment to strengthening the skills that make collaborative discussion possible. By helping people engage in meaningful conversations across differences, we aim to build stronger communities and a healthier and a more vibrant democratic future.
Please visit our Collaborative Discussion Toolkit or check out our events page to register for our webinars and Coach Training program.
