Free Speech & Safety On Campus

Our responsibility as a university is to make space for educational dialogue for our community to better understand complex and challenging issues. We believe deeply in supporting a healthy and safe learning and working environment for all members of our community, prioritizing the emotional and physical safety of our students, faculty, and staff. We expect members of the New School community to act in ways that are consistent with our core values of respect, tolerance, and dignity.

We encourage you to familiarize yourselves with the resources and information on this page and to visit our Campus Safety website to learn more about safety preparedness on our campus.

Our commitment to freedom of speech may be found in our Free Exchange of Ideas and Freedom of Artistic Expression policies. This commitment extends to our staff and students, with both the president and provost reaffirming this commitment.

Messages from University Leaders

• President Towers' August 1 Message A Message from President Joel Towers: Beginnings
• President Towers' August 15 Message A Question for the Community
• Invitation to Community Address by President Towers
• Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility’s August 19 Message Third Communication to The New School Community from the Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility
• Shondrika Merritt, Dean of Students, and Andrade Fearon, Senior Director of SLI August 26 Message Regarding Recent USS Funding Halt
• Invitation to Community Conversations with President Towers
• Lorenley Báez, Associate Provost for Equity and Belonging, September 9 Message Office of Equity & Belonging Welcomes You
• University Announcements, September 11 Anticipated Demonstration Activity and Temporary Changes to Campus Building Access September 12, 2024
• President Towers' September 12 Message Update on Today's Demonstration
• Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility’s September 17 Message Fourth Communication to The New School from the Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility
• Board of Trustees September 18 Message A Community Update on the Board of Trustees’ Review of the ACIR Fall 2024 Report
• Board of Trustees September 25 Message Our Process for Reviewing the ACIR Fall 2024 Report
• University Announcements, October 3 Message Our Preparations for Anticipated Demonstration Activity Across New York City
• October 14 Invitation to Community Conversations with President Towers
• President Towers' December 11 Message Reflecting On 2024 and Turning Toward 2025

Community Gatherings

• View President Towers' August 22 community address.

Community Standards & Policies

Community Dialogues

The university is committed to providing space to engage in open exchanges of ideas and to inviting our community members to actively listen in constructive and inclusive dialogue across a variety of subjects.

Faculty

Our Faculty Center will continue to offer resources and seek to provide additional faculty training opportunities to support educational forums and classroom dialogue. We encourage our faculty and academic deans to continue to collaborate and engage in offering a diversity of educational opportunities across the university. 

Faculty in need of support for Teaching and Learning can email thefacultycenter@newschool.edu and are encouraged to review these resources for faculty.

Staff

If staff are looking to form or join an employee affinity group during this time, please contact Ilana Levitt and Human Resources will help facilitate the organization of a group based on community interest.

Students

Join us for The Belonging Journey, a dialogue series focused on exploring structural inequalities, understanding power and privilege, and bolstering a sense of belonging as part of the remedy. For more information or to register for upcoming events, please visit our dedicated webpage.

Student Organizations

Student organizations play a significant role in providing community and programming specific to different identities, cultures, and interests. Learn more and get connected to organizations through Narwhal Nation.

Additional University Resources