MIT Free Speech Alliance

We're delighted to report that over the weekend, with the help of our members, MFSA crossed its $50,000 matching goal, unlocking a donor's additional $50,000 pledge. This makes for our most ambitious -- and successful -- year-end fundraising effort yet. From all of us at MFSA, thank you! With your help, we'll start 2025 on stronger footing and in position to make next year our most impactful one yet. There's still some time to contribute to MFSA this year, and if you're interested, you can do so here: https://lnkd.in/eWcbbRm6 Thanks again, and Happy New Year from our team.

Something else MFSA is looking forward to in 2025: Having a spot at Heterodox Academy's annual conference! We're delighted to announce that our panel proposal, on the importance of getting more STEM faculty involved in university affairs, was accepted for the program, to be held in Manhattan June. More info as we get closer, but mark your schedules!

Among the events and programs we're excited to be part of in 2025, MFSA is proud to be both a sponsor and a participant in this interdisciplinary conference on Censorship in the Sciences, being held at the University of Southern California from January 10-12 next year. Wayne Stargardt, MFSA's president, will participate in a panel discussion at the conference, whose sponsors and supporters include FIRE, Heterodox Academy, the Institute for Humane Studies, and the Academic Freedom Alliance. More information at the conference site below! https://lnkd.in/e3WF36q7

Earlier this month, Allan R. Tate, Executive Chair of the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium, wrote a feature for us about how he brought new efforts at open discourse, including roundtable discussions and a debate, to the 2024 edition of the symposium. You can read more about those efforts here. We look forward to seeing what the Symposium has in store for 2025, and to being on hand next May! https://lnkd.in/eydyinFa

This December, we've been running a matching campaign in which all donations at $250 and above are matched 100%, up to a total of $50,000. Thanks to our members, we're more than 90% of the way to reaching our goal! There's still a bit of time left to double the impact of your giving, and you can donate to MFSA at the below link. Thanks to all who have done so thus far! https://lnkd.in/eWcbbRm6

We're thrilled to have someone as qualified as Nishita joining us next year, and I'm personally delighted to have the opportunity to participate in a co-op program. I worked with many wonderful co-ops from Drexel University's program during my decade-plus at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and I'm a huge believer in the model. Having Nishita working alongside me full time for six months is going to make a major impact on our administrative capabilities and the delivery of our member experience. I'm excited to see what we're able to do together. First things first though, Nishita -- relax after your finals and enjoy the holidays!

This afternoon at 4:00, our friend John Chisholm is part of a Heterodox Academy virtual discussion on bringing HxA values to STEM institutions. For more info, and to register and watch, visit: https://lnkd.in/e8X7puPT

Happy Friday! Here are a few photos from last week's climate policy debate to enjoy. It was great seeing so many members of the MIT community, not to mention our members. People brought great questions (as usual, we could have spent another hour on them), and the caliber of the discussion was excellent. A big thanks to our debaters for putting on a good show. More pictures from the debate are on our website here: https://lnkd.in/d-gZ28wG And you can watch the debate on our YouTube channel here: https://lnkd.in/eKXuEpRA

We’ll be there as well! MFSA President Wayne Stargardt will be representing us in one of the conference’s panels, and we’re proud to take part as a sponsor as well. Looking forward to the discussions!