Different jurisdictions, whether in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom or around the world, confront the rights and responsibilities associated with free expression in different ways. Many of these jurisdictions are subject to legal and social contexts that differ – often profoundly – from our own. Their policies and procedures do not apply to the University of Toronto. Nevertheless, it can be helpful to explore varying approaches to the universal issue of free expression, both to understand our own context better, and also to appreciate the landscape in other parts of the world. You will find a sample of different approaches below.
Organizational Statements and Policies
Statement on Academic Freedom, Universities Canada, October 2011
AAU Presidents and Chancellors Reaffirm Commitment To Free Speech On Campus, April 2018
Academic Freedom, Canadian Association of University Teachers, November 2011
Respectful Workplace Policies – Discussion Paper, Canadian Association of University Teachers, November 2017
On Freedom of Expression and Campus Speech Codes, American Association of University Professors, 1994
Institutional Statements and Policies
Oxford University Statement on the importance of freedom of speech
University of Cambridge Statement on Freedom of Speech, June 2016
University of California, Berkeley, Free Speech
University of Chicago, Free Expression
University of Washington, President’s statement: Free expression and what it means for all of us, October 2017
HKUST, Mission & Vision
University of Cape Town, Vice-Chancellor’s statement: UCT values, free speech and silencing, May 2017
Miscellaneous Articles and Statements
Freedom of Speech, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
