As both a student at the University of Kansas and a parent of a KU student, I am deeply alarmed by the growing assault on student speech, civil liberties, freedom of thought and America's constitutional order. Universities are not just institutions of learning; they are supposed to be sanctuaries of free inquiry, where students and faculty are empowered to question, debate, and challenge prevailing narratives without fear of reprisal. Today, that freedom is under attack, and KU must take a stand.
The current political climate is suffused with fear. I understand this fear because I feel it myself. I have hesitated before speaking, second-guessed my words and worried whether my concerns would be dismissed as overreactions. This creeping self-censorship is precisely why KU’s position matters. If even those of us who cherish free expression are hesitating, how much more vulnerable are those whose voices are already marginalized?
Recent events at Columbia University highlight the urgency of this issue. Columbia’s decision to take punitive action against students and faculty for expressing their views on America’s role in yet another unfolding humanitarian crisis is repugnant and antithetical to the core values of higher education. Such suppression of dissent sets a dangerous precedent, emboldening further attacks on academic freedom and student activism. KU’s silence in response to these actions is not neutrality—it is complicity. By failing to take a stand, KU risks aligning itself with those who seek to suppress speech and stifle intellectual discourse.
The Trump administration’s broader campaign against free expression extends far beyond Columbia. It represents a direct attack on the constitutional rights of students nationwide, threatening the very foundation of democratic discourse. KU must not only protect its own students, faculty, and staff but also set a national example by reaffirming its commitment to upholding these rights.
This is a moment that demands more than quiet concern. KU must issue a public statement unequivocally condemning the suppression of student speech and academic freedom. It must stand in solidarity with students and faculty across the country who face intimidation for speaking out. Furthermore, KU should call upon other academic institutions to do the same, demonstrating that it will not waver in its defense of intellectual freedom.
As a student, as a parent, and as a citizen, I implore KU to recognize the gravity of this moment. The students, their parents, the faculty and staff of KU deserve to know that their university will stand unwaveringly in defense of their rights. This is not a time for silence; it is a time for principled action. KU has a duty to protect the freedoms that define the academic experience, and history will remember whether it chose to stand or to remain complicit.
The time for KU to speak out is now.
Jeff Beaty
he/him
class of 2026
