The Office of the President
April 3, 2023
Dear Members of the SUNY Oswego Community,

SUNY Oswego remains committed to constitutionally protected speech, even speech with which we may disagree or may be counter to our personal and institutional values.

Constitutionally protected speech is an important value of our society and critical to a well-functioning democracy. One of the greatest opportunities presented by higher education is to engage in civil discourse with people who are different from ourselves. If we take the opportunity to listen and civilly engage with one another, then we may more easily build bridges across divides, reflect more clearly on our own beliefs, and acquire a greater understanding of one another.

According to SUNY Oswego’s Policy on Free Speech, Civil Discourse and Peaceful Assembly, developed in 2017-2018 through the efforts of the faculty, staff, and student-led Task Force on Free Speech, Civil Discourse and Peaceful Assembly:
A vital academic climate requires, and thus SUNY Oswego protects and promotes, the exchange of ideas and search for truth. SUNY Oswego respects and fulfills the guarantees of free speech under the U.S. Constitution. To that end, we support assembly, debate, and discourse outside of the classroom on all manner of issues. Members of the SUNY Oswego community will have different perspectives and ideas, which may conflict. Our role is not to shield people from ideas and opinions with which they disagree or are potentially offensive.
SUNY Oswego encourages civil discourse and active engagement on and off campus and continues to encourage all members of the community to remain dedicated to freedom of speech and an open and respectful academic climate. 

Sincerely,

Mary C. Toale, Ed.D.
Officer in Charge

Office of the President
706 Culkin Hall
315.312.2211
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