Tim Bakken, Professor of Law, U.S. Military Academy, West Point on The Consequences of Silence When Academic Freedom and Expression are at Risk: Learning to Speak and Act According to Your Conscience

This presentation will describe Mr. Bakken’s personal experience as well as a broader overview of the dynamics within universities when students, staff, faculty, and members of other institutions express dissenting opinions, and, as a result, experience adverse treatment (e.g., out casting). It is posited that supporters of dissenters or their viewpoints will remain silent, unable to offer assistance, unless institutions teach that the content of expression is not a basis on which to punish or isolate people. Time will be allotted to discuss the relevance of these issues within Stanford University.