@thechicagoforum.bsky.social
The Chicago Forum is excited to share two stories featuring the work of our Winter Fellow, Yaqiu Wang.
I’m a Chinese pro-democracy activist. Here’s how to find courage to oppose Trump | Yaqiu Wang
While acting on your moral convictions can be risky, it can also feel profoundly good
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The Chicago Forum is excited to share two stories featuring the work of our Winter Fellow, Yaqiu Wang.
Professor @tomginsburg.bsky.social, the Chicago Forum’s Faculty Director, was quoted in the Boston Globe on the March 2025 arrest of Tufts grad student Rümeysa Öztürk — an incident he says has “profound” implications for free expression.
Read the full story here: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/11/m...
Read the full story here: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/11/m...
Tufts grad student Rümeysa Öztürk did nothing wrong. The Trump administration went after her anyway. - The Boston Globe
In March, masked agents swarmed her on a Somerville street. The crackdown on foreign scholars was just beginning.
www.bostonglobe.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Professor @tomginsburg.bsky.social, the Chicago Forum’s Faculty Director, was quoted in the Boston Globe on the March 2025 arrest of Tufts grad student Rümeysa Öztürk — an incident he says has “profound” implications for free expression.
Read the full story here: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/11/m...
Read the full story here: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/11/m...
Chicago Forum Faculty Director Prof. @tomginsburg.bsky.social, who has written about the decline of democracies around the world, says inducing worry is effective. “You get a lot of anticipatory compliance, which is cheap. And vagueness is part of the tool kit.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/m...
In the Trump Presidency, the Rules Are Vague. That Might Be the Point.
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Chicago Forum Faculty Director Prof. @tomginsburg.bsky.social, who has written about the decline of democracies around the world, says inducing worry is effective. “You get a lot of anticipatory compliance, which is cheap. And vagueness is part of the tool kit.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/m...
Reposted
Profs. @tomginsburg.bsky.social and @cfloed.bsky.social (Yale Law) discuss sanctions and the UN Human Rights system on the latest episode of the "Entitled" podcast.
Silencing the Special Procedures: Sanctions and the UN Human Rights System
Entitled · Episode
buff.ly
October 29, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Profs. @tomginsburg.bsky.social and @cfloed.bsky.social (Yale Law) discuss sanctions and the UN Human Rights system on the latest episode of the "Entitled" podcast.
Scholars of academic freedom—Professors Robert George (Princeton), Tom Ginsburg (Chicago), Robert Post (Yale), David Rabban (Texas), Jeannie Suk Gersen (Harvard), and Keith Whittington (Yale)—respond to the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Ed.
tomginsburg.substack.com/p/on-the-com...
tomginsburg.substack.com/p/on-the-com...
On the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education
By Professors Robert P. George (Princeton), Tom Ginsburg (Chicago), Robert Post (Yale), David Rabban (Texas), Jeannie Suk Gersen (Harvard), and Keith Whittington (Yale)
tomginsburg.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Scholars of academic freedom—Professors Robert George (Princeton), Tom Ginsburg (Chicago), Robert Post (Yale), David Rabban (Texas), Jeannie Suk Gersen (Harvard), and Keith Whittington (Yale)—respond to the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Ed.
tomginsburg.substack.com/p/on-the-com...
tomginsburg.substack.com/p/on-the-com...
Read the latest op-ed co-authored by Prof. Tom Ginsburg where he writes about the recently proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” which he says "threatens" the partnership between higher ed & government to produce the best scholarship.
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...
A Compact for Control (opinion)
No self-respecting institution of higher education should accept the Trump administration’s unconstitutional terms, Robert Post and Tom Ginsburg write.
www.insidehighered.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Read the latest op-ed co-authored by Prof. Tom Ginsburg where he writes about the recently proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” which he says "threatens" the partnership between higher ed & government to produce the best scholarship.
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...
From funding cuts to surveillance, Chicago Forum Faculty Director @tomginsburg.bsky.social breaks down Trump’s War on Universities in his latest for Persuasion.
www.persuasion.community/p/trumps-war...
www.persuasion.community/p/trumps-war...
Trump’s War on Universities
Under the new regime, every student becomes a possible enemy.
www.persuasion.community
October 3, 2025 at 6:49 PM
From funding cuts to surveillance, Chicago Forum Faculty Director @tomginsburg.bsky.social breaks down Trump’s War on Universities in his latest for Persuasion.
www.persuasion.community/p/trumps-war...
www.persuasion.community/p/trumps-war...
ICYMI: Chicago Forum Faculty Director @tomginsburg.bsky.social recently joined Richard Chew for a conversation on the importance of active citizen participation in democracy and the challenges facing constitutional democracy in the United States.
omny.fm/shows/chewsv...
omny.fm/shows/chewsv...
WCPT 820 Interview: Tom Ginsburg - Chew's Views with Richard Chew
Richard Chew is joined by Tom Ginsburg, Leo Spitz Distinguished Service Professor of International Law at the University of Chicago, director of the Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression, and author o...
omny.fm
September 23, 2025 at 7:57 PM
ICYMI: Chicago Forum Faculty Director @tomginsburg.bsky.social recently joined Richard Chew for a conversation on the importance of active citizen participation in democracy and the challenges facing constitutional democracy in the United States.
omny.fm/shows/chewsv...
omny.fm/shows/chewsv...
“If there's any ‘Lone Star,’ it's that the government cannot tell people what to think and what to say, and can't punish people for protected speech,” said @tomginsburg.bsky.social , a law professor at the University of Chicago.
www.statesman.com/news/educati...
www.statesman.com/news/educati...
Experts say punishing colleges students for speech clearly illegal
Experts: Students at public colleges are entitled to First Amendment protections despite Gov. Greg Abbott's calls to expel students for conduct "mocking" Charlie Kirk's assassination.
www.statesman.com
September 22, 2025 at 6:04 PM
“If there's any ‘Lone Star,’ it's that the government cannot tell people what to think and what to say, and can't punish people for protected speech,” said @tomginsburg.bsky.social , a law professor at the University of Chicago.
www.statesman.com/news/educati...
www.statesman.com/news/educati...
Chicago Forum Faculty Director @tomginsburg.bsky.social spoke with the Washington Post about the recent arrest of a student at Texas Tech University.
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Texas Tech student’s arrest at Charlie Kirk vigil adds to free-speech debate
The arrest was celebrated by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) but raised concerns among free-speech advocates.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 16, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Chicago Forum Faculty Director @tomginsburg.bsky.social spoke with the Washington Post about the recent arrest of a student at Texas Tech University.
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
@tomginsburg.bsky.social, a UChicago law professor and faculty director of the school’s Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression, said there have been efforts to promote ideological diversity on college campuses in recent years but “we need much more of it.”
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
Charlie Kirk's death renews focus on the balance between free speech and safety
Free speech experts told USA TODAY that colleges and universities can't be dissuaded from hosting controversial speakers in light of Kirk's murder.
www.usatoday.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
@tomginsburg.bsky.social, a UChicago law professor and faculty director of the school’s Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression, said there have been efforts to promote ideological diversity on college campuses in recent years but “we need much more of it.”
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
Read about Israel’s attacks on Iran through personal journal entries authored by our Director of Programs, Talla Mountjoy, published in the Chicago Tribune today.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/16/o...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/16/o...
Talla Mountjoy: ‘We’ll survive. Iran always survives.’ Israel’s attacks as seen through journal entries.
Abandoned by the world and their own government, my family and the Iranian people relied on their strength to get through Israel’s attacks.
www.chicagotribune.com
July 16, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Read about Israel’s attacks on Iran through personal journal entries authored by our Director of Programs, Talla Mountjoy, published in the Chicago Tribune today.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/16/o...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/16/o...
In his latest article for Persuasion, Chicago Forum Faculty Director Professor @tomginsburg.bsky.social analyzes how a second Trump administration could shift the balance of power within the U.S. government by moving toward a hyper-presidential system.
www.persuasion.community/p/the-hyper-...
www.persuasion.community/p/the-hyper-...
The Hyper-Presidency
Taking stock of Trump’s radical experiment with executive power.
www.persuasion.community
July 2, 2025 at 5:27 PM
In his latest article for Persuasion, Chicago Forum Faculty Director Professor @tomginsburg.bsky.social analyzes how a second Trump administration could shift the balance of power within the U.S. government by moving toward a hyper-presidential system.
www.persuasion.community/p/the-hyper-...
www.persuasion.community/p/the-hyper-...
ICYMI: 🎙️ In the latest Entitled podcast, Professors Tom Ginsburg & Claudia Flores discuss Mahmoud Khalil's arrest by ICE with his lawyer, Baher Azmy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxfG...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxfG...
Why Mahmoud Khalil's Lawyer Is Losing Faith in the Justice System
YouTube video by Entitled Podcast
www.youtube.com
May 21, 2025 at 8:16 PM
ICYMI: 🎙️ In the latest Entitled podcast, Professors Tom Ginsburg & Claudia Flores discuss Mahmoud Khalil's arrest by ICE with his lawyer, Baher Azmy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxfG...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxfG...
ICYMI: Professor @tomginsburg.bsky.social, Faculty Director of the Chicago Forum, reflects on the role of personal statements in student-run law reviews and their implications for academic freedom in his latest article.
Read the full article here: balkin.blogspot.com/2025/05/acad...
Read the full article here: balkin.blogspot.com/2025/05/acad...
Balkinization: Academic Freedom of Law Reviews: Personal Statements Under Attack
A group blog on constitutional law, theory, and politics
balkin.blogspot.com
May 13, 2025 at 2:59 PM
ICYMI: Professor @tomginsburg.bsky.social, Faculty Director of the Chicago Forum, reflects on the role of personal statements in student-run law reviews and their implications for academic freedom in his latest article.
Read the full article here: balkin.blogspot.com/2025/05/acad...
Read the full article here: balkin.blogspot.com/2025/05/acad...
Chicago Forum Faculty Director @tomginsburg.bsky.social writes about academic freedom as the Trump administration leans on higher education.
www.persuasion.community/p/where-are-...
www.persuasion.community/p/where-are-...
Where Are the Red Lines?
It’s time for universities to take a stand on academic freedom.
www.persuasion.community
April 9, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Chicago Forum Faculty Director @tomginsburg.bsky.social writes about academic freedom as the Trump administration leans on higher education.
www.persuasion.community/p/where-are-...
www.persuasion.community/p/where-are-...
Chicago Forum Faculty Advisor and First Amendment Scholar Genevieve Lakier speaks with CBS News about the free speech implications of the crackdown on foreign students and why we should care when constitutional principles and values are undermined.
www.cbsnews.com/video/what-t...
www.cbsnews.com/video/what-t...
What to know about Trump's crackdown on foreign student visas
Students identified as pro-Palestinian activists have had their visas revoked or their legal status challenged the by the Trump administration, who cites a provision in America's immigration law. Gene...
www.cbsnews.com
April 3, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Chicago Forum Faculty Advisor and First Amendment Scholar Genevieve Lakier speaks with CBS News about the free speech implications of the crackdown on foreign students and why we should care when constitutional principles and values are undermined.
www.cbsnews.com/video/what-t...
www.cbsnews.com/video/what-t...
Watch Professors Tom Ginsburg and Brian Soucek discuss institutional neutrality and academic freedom in a webinar hosted by UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement on March 4, 2025.
freespeechcenter.universityofcalifornia.edu/recent-upcom...
freespeechcenter.universityofcalifornia.edu/recent-upcom...
Recent & Upcoming Events
Recent & Upcoming Events
freespeechcenter.universityofcalifornia.edu
March 10, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Watch Professors Tom Ginsburg and Brian Soucek discuss institutional neutrality and academic freedom in a webinar hosted by UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement on March 4, 2025.
freespeechcenter.universityofcalifornia.edu/recent-upcom...
freespeechcenter.universityofcalifornia.edu/recent-upcom...
Happening today at noon CT!
Join Professor Brian Soucek and Professor Tom Ginsburg for a virtual discussion on institutional neutrality. Hear their dueling perspectives on the issue.
Register now at uci.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Join Professor Brian Soucek and Professor Tom Ginsburg for a virtual discussion on institutional neutrality. Hear their dueling perspectives on the issue.
Register now at uci.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Dueling Perspectives: Is Institutional Neutrality Necessary for Academic Freedom?. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining th...
The Association of American University Professors (AAUP) recently issued a new statement on institutional neutrality. Tom Ginsburg, the faculty director of the Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression at...
uci.zoom.us
March 4, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Happening today at noon CT!
Join Professor Brian Soucek and Professor Tom Ginsburg for a virtual discussion on institutional neutrality. Hear their dueling perspectives on the issue.
Register now at uci.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Join Professor Brian Soucek and Professor Tom Ginsburg for a virtual discussion on institutional neutrality. Hear their dueling perspectives on the issue.
Register now at uci.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted
You’re Invited to “Dueling Perspectives: Is Institutional Neutrality Necessary for Academic Freedom?"
Feat. @ucdavislaw.bsky.social prof @brsoucek.bsky.social and @thechicagoforum.bsky.social faculty director Tom Ginsburg.
WHEN: Tues. March 4, 10am PT | 1pm ET
https://buff.ly/41bXHOP
Feat. @ucdavislaw.bsky.social prof @brsoucek.bsky.social and @thechicagoforum.bsky.social faculty director Tom Ginsburg.
WHEN: Tues. March 4, 10am PT | 1pm ET
https://buff.ly/41bXHOP
February 21, 2025 at 10:39 PM
You’re Invited to “Dueling Perspectives: Is Institutional Neutrality Necessary for Academic Freedom?"
Feat. @ucdavislaw.bsky.social prof @brsoucek.bsky.social and @thechicagoforum.bsky.social faculty director Tom Ginsburg.
WHEN: Tues. March 4, 10am PT | 1pm ET
https://buff.ly/41bXHOP
Feat. @ucdavislaw.bsky.social prof @brsoucek.bsky.social and @thechicagoforum.bsky.social faculty director Tom Ginsburg.
WHEN: Tues. March 4, 10am PT | 1pm ET
https://buff.ly/41bXHOP
Join Professor Tom Ginsburg, Faculty Director of the Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression at the University of Chicago, and Professor Brian Soucek of the University of California at Davis for a captivating virtual discussion on institutional neutrality.
uci.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
uci.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Dueling Perspectives: Is Institutional Neutrality Necessary for Academic Freedom?. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining th...
The Association of American University Professors (AAUP) recently issued a new statement on institutional neutrality. Tom Ginsburg, the faculty director of the Forum for Free Inquiry and Free Expressi...
uci.zoom.us
February 25, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Join Professor Tom Ginsburg, Faculty Director of the Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression at the University of Chicago, and Professor Brian Soucek of the University of California at Davis for a captivating virtual discussion on institutional neutrality.
uci.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
uci.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
In The Chronicle of Higher Education, Chicago Forum Faculty Director Professor Tom Ginsburg discusses how the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)’s new policies are weakening its once-vital role in defending academic freedom.
www.chronicle.com/article/can-...
www.chronicle.com/article/can-...
Can Academic Freedom Survive the AAUP?
The organization’s new policies imperil the sector they’re supposed to protect.
www.chronicle.com
February 19, 2025 at 4:32 PM
In The Chronicle of Higher Education, Chicago Forum Faculty Director Professor Tom Ginsburg discusses how the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)’s new policies are weakening its once-vital role in defending academic freedom.
www.chronicle.com/article/can-...
www.chronicle.com/article/can-...
Join us for an engaging lunchtime conversation with writer and human rights activist Jamie Kalven. He will discuss the unfinished business of the landmark Kalven Report, exploring its ongoing relevance and the systemic challenges it sought to address.
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-unfini...
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-unfini...
“The Unfinished Business of the Kalven Report” with Jamie Kalven
Join the Chicago Forum for an engaging lunchtime conversation with writer and human rights activist Jamie Kalven.
www.eventbrite.com
February 11, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Join us for an engaging lunchtime conversation with writer and human rights activist Jamie Kalven. He will discuss the unfinished business of the landmark Kalven Report, exploring its ongoing relevance and the systemic challenges it sought to address.
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-unfini...
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-unfini...
President Paul Alivisatos was recently a featured guest on an episode of the Free Expression with Gerry Baker podcast, presented by the Wall Street Journal.
www.wsj.com/podcasts/opi...
www.wsj.com/podcasts/opi...
Will Free Expression Thrive Under Trump 2.0? - Opinion: Free Expression - WSJ Podcasts
With Donald Trump making the elimination of diversity, equality, and inclusion programs in the federal government a high priority, there is no doubt the effort will extend to other aspects of society ...
www.wsj.com
February 10, 2025 at 9:01 PM
President Paul Alivisatos was recently a featured guest on an episode of the Free Expression with Gerry Baker podcast, presented by the Wall Street Journal.
www.wsj.com/podcasts/opi...
www.wsj.com/podcasts/opi...
Recordings of “The Chicago Principles at Ten Years: University Free Expression Then, Now, and Tomorrow” are now available on YouTube!
View recordings at: www.youtube.com/@thechicagof...
View recordings at: www.youtube.com/@thechicagof...
February 6, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Recordings of “The Chicago Principles at Ten Years: University Free Expression Then, Now, and Tomorrow” are now available on YouTube!
View recordings at: www.youtube.com/@thechicagof...
View recordings at: www.youtube.com/@thechicagof...