CAFCE will periodically publish updates for the MIT community on CAFCE’s current focus.
May 2024 – CAFCE Statement on Freedom of Expression, Civil Disobedience, and the Encampment
In recent days, we have seen statements defending the encampment at Kresge Oval on the grounds of free speech and academic freedom. We as the ad hoc Committee on Academic Freedom and Campus Expression (CAFCE) all agree that while freedom of expression protects the ability of community members to express their views about the current situation in the Middle East, it does not protect the continued use of a shared Institute resource in violation of long-established rules.
Like everyone in our community, we hope the current situation can be resolved without the violence and culture of intimidation that we have seen unfold in other campuses. We are heartened by the fact that the encampment has stayed within the bounds of nonviolent civil disobedience. We recognize and respect that civil disobedience is a practice that some may choose as a means of protesting policies and actions that they believe to be unjust. However, a willingness to face disciplinary measures in defense of one’s views is a defining feature of civil disobedience. We believe it is important to uphold the rules and norms that exist to ensure fair access to shared resources and to promote civil dialogue across diverse viewpoints within our campus.