Columbia University Settlement

A key provision of the Settlement is Columbia’s re-affirmed commitment to the academic tradition of free thought and open debate. We believe that open debates on these difficult subjects are the bedrock of the university experience and the American political process more broadly, and are the most productive way to come to shared understandings of complex facts, values and views of each side. But meaningful debates have, unfortunately, been sidelined—which we’d like to help fix.

Plaintiff and her counsel are exploring ways to enable the Columbia community to engage in safe (for now, virtual) public debates on the issues surrounding Israel, the war in Gaza, October 7th and its aftermath that have been the subject of the protests. We're calling these events "Speak for Peace." We are seeking your views on organizations or individuals that might serve as moderators, potential speakers, and the topics of debate.

We are particularly seeking collaborators sharing the views of the protest movement, whether leaders of the protests, public intellectuals, or organizations. Anyone seeking to engage in good faith is welcome.

Moderators will determine the structure of the debate and topics, and will conduct the debate. Moderators should either be neutral or representative of the different positions involved. Moderators could include student organizations, professors, public intellectuals, or representatives of appropriate public organizations. Who are your suggestions for moderators?

Speakers could include Columbia professors, students, or public intellectuals engaged in these issues. Who are your suggestions for speakers?

The moderators will ultimately determine the topics of the debate, but we want your submissions. What topics would you like to see covered in a debate?

Speak for Peace

Suggestion Box