Last Thursday and Friday, the Oberlin Board of Trustees convened in Oberlin. In consultation with outside experts and faculty, the trustees discussed the country’s current political landscape, implications for Oberlin, and the question of academic freedom. At the end of the board meeting, the trustees voted unanimously to reaffirm the board’s commitment to Oberlin’s mission statement.
“Needless to say, whether we were discussing it directly, or whether it just hovered over the conversations, the main topic was the storm — a storm that could get a lot worse,” Chair of the Board Chris Canavan, OC ’84, said. “What’s going on has many dimensions, from those that could affect colleges and universities directly, like Columbia, to those that could affect us very indirectly and over time, but nevertheless have really material impacts, like changes to how people think about colleges in Ohio or liberal arts colleges.”
At the heart of some of these discussions was the question of what academic freedom means. Canavan emphasized the importance of distinguishing between academic freedom and freedom of expression.
“When you’re thinking about how to uphold academic freedom, you have to think about not just what academic freedom means, but all of the consequences and potential consequences that exercising academic freedom might have, some of which could undermine the resilience of that protective insulation,” Canavan said.
Concerns around academic freedom at the meeting were exacerbated by the fact that on Friday, President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of $400 million in grants to Columbia University over their handling of pro-Palestinian student protests. Since Friday, concerns have only grown following the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian student activist at Columbia — a move that has alarmed many around the country and set off waves of protests.
On March 10, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights sent out letters to 60 other universities that are under investigation for antisemitism, warning of potential penalties. Oberlin College did not receive a letter. However, the Office of Civil Rights website lists an investigation into allegations of antisemitism at Oberlin as ongoing. The investigation was started in September 2023.
According to President Carmen Twillie Ambar, the board also discussed Ohio’s Senate Bill 1, which would ban diversity, equity and inclusion offices, as well as the right to take a stand on “controversial” topics, in the state’s public institutions of Higher Education. Controversial topics under the bill include “climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage, or abortion.” The bill would also ban faculty strikes. S.B. 1 was passed by the Ohio Senate on Feb. 12, but still needs approval from the House of Representatives and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
While S.B. 1 would not directly affect Oberlin as a private institution, President Ambar explained its relevance to the current moment.
“I do think the board is cognizant of that bill and the tone it sets, and I think that that was, yes, a source of conversation, and part of the discussion as the board tries to get a handle on what the moment is,” President Ambar said.
Meanwhile, on March 7, Oberlin students rallied outside The Hotel at Oberlin, where the Board of Trustees was having dinner, calling for divestment from Israel and weapons manufacturers. The board had previously voted down a proposal for the College to divest from companies involved in the Israeli occupation of Palestine last June. The protest, consisting of about 30 students, lasted until the protestors were able to enter the Admissions Office building connected to the Hotel, and the Oberlin Police Department arrived to disperse the crowd.
At the end of its meeting, the board formally reaffirmed through resolution its commitment to Oberlin’s mission. The mission statement reads as follows:
“Oberlin College and Conservatory educates students for lives of intellectual, musical and artistic rigor and breadth, sustained inquiry, creativity and innovation, and leadership. Oberlin aims to prepare graduates with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives essential to confront complex issues and to create change and value in the world. Oberlin is committed to educational access and opportunity. It seeks to offer a diverse and inclusive residential learning environment encouraging a free and respectful exchange of ideas and shares an enduring commitment to a sustainable and just society.”
President Ambar emphasized the significance of this vote in signaling a dedication to Oberlin’s core values in this time of uncertainty.
“I think that was an important vote to establish for themselves, but also for our community,” President Ambar said. “I thought that was an important outcome: we renewed our vows of ideas and shares an enduring commitment to a sustainable and just society.”
