March 20, 2025 – Our Commitments to Freedom of Expression and Mutual Respect

Dear Members of the Davidson Community, 

It has been an active semester on campus. Over spring break, students joined nearly 20 Davidson-sponsored trips around the country and world, each with an educational goal and sense of purpose. We have now entered the closing weeks of the semester and can clearly see the pathway to Commencement for the Class of 2025! Also this semester, we have almost completed our planning and fundraising for a renovated library, and we received a transformational gift from the Curry and Berman families to support our men’s and women’s basketball teams. And this weekend we will release regular-admission decisions to welcome the incoming Class of 2029—from a record-breaking number of applicants. 

In short, Davidson College is flourishing. 

At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that we are living in a turbulent moment in our society, our politics, and the world. I have dedicated much of my time this academic year to meeting with students, faculty, and staff on campus; alumni, parents, and friends in various cities; other college and university presidents; and political leaders in Davidson, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Washington. 

In all of these contexts, I have listened to concerns, and I have shared Davidson’s story. A few things are crystal clear, and two realities sit in uncomfortable tension.

First, and most importantly, we are guided by our Statement of Purpose, and by any metric, we are living up to our core values. Admitting students without regard to family finances while meeting 100% of demonstrated need and omitting loans in aid packages creates access and opportunity for talented students of all backgrounds—a cornerstone of our mission. The majority of our endowment payout each year goes directly to students as need-based financial assistance. And our graduation rate of 92%—and 94% for Pell-eligible students—is among the highest of any school.

Yet, at the same time, distrust in higher education in general has never been more prevalent in modern times. Citing instances of protest, violence, and anti-Semitism as well as accusations of ideological indoctrination, leaders in Washington argue that higher education “has lost its way.” Cuts to federal programs have already affected Davidson students and alumni through the defunding of graduate programs, revoked internships and job interviews, and lost jobs.

As I wrote in an earlier letter, our approach in this critical moment for higher education will be to share Davidson’s extraordinary commitment to education, access and opportunity, and preparing graduates of all backgrounds for leadership and service.

As part of that commitment to our values—to being a community of trust—we must redouble our efforts to ensure freedom of expression for everyone regardless of their identity or worldview.

There is vast room at Davidson for free inquiry, speech, and debate, guaranteed by our founding document’s commitment to the equal moral worth of every individual. It is reflected in Davidson’s Commitment to Freedom of Expression. While freedom of expression is vast in this educational community, it is not unlimited. The shared guidelines for conduct and speech are outlined in detail in Davidson’s Code of Responsibility. Building an educational community with space for differing viewpoints calls us to live up to expectations to not demean, harass or discriminate against individuals or groups—to honor the equal dignity of every person.

Clearly, determining where the specific boundaries and tensions between the freedom to speak and the responsibilities associated with mutual respect is one of the hardest questions that we as a college community confront—in this moment and in all moments. Yet, guided by our commitments and policies, we hold one another to norms of mutual respect and learning from and with one another, even as we remain deeply committed to free expression.

As one community-wide opportunity to address these questions, the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative, under the leadership of Prof. Graham Bullock, will host, in partnership with Professors Ike Bailey and Melissa Gonzalez, a forum entitled, “Free Expression at Davidson: Rights and Responsibilities during an Uncertain Time.” Additional information will be available in the coming weeks.

I believe that Davidson College is and can increasingly be a model for how such hard, complex, and respectful work can shape a healthy democracy. The work we do across campus—from the Honor Code signing during orientation, classroom learning, the Davidson in Washington program, the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative, to the Center for Political Engagement and countless student clubs—is already enacting that. This is how Davidson will build up trust across campus and help restore trust in higher education and our civic life.

Thank you for your own efforts, in your daily interactions and in wider ways, to show mutual respect and even a spirit of grace toward one another.

Doug Hicks '90
President