The agents of constructive discourse and critical analytical thinking within the Lauder Institute are its individual community members. The Institute serves as the hosting entity for these agents, but our organization does not act as the critic itself. With that premise firmly in mind, the Lauder Institute is committed to institutional neutrality against a backdrop of constructive dialogue.
In their capacity as representatives of the Lauder Institute, Institute administrators abstain from opining on societal and political events absent truly extraordinary circumstances such as threats to the very mission of the Institute and its values of free inquiry. Institutional neutrality is vital to foster a sense of inclusion among all community members. Official statements on societal and political events inevitably alienate individuals within the community who hold differing opinions from the communicated institutional perspective or who, in their research efforts, wish to reexamine common orthodoxies.
Please also see University of Pennsylvania’s statement on ‘Upholding Academic Independence’ published September 10, 2024: https://penntoday.upenn.edu/announcements/upholding-academic-independence
