Statement on Institutional Neutrality
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
Our Approach to Constructive Disagreement
At the Lauder Institute, we view constructive disagreement as the essential counterpart to institutional neutrality—each reinforcing the other to create an environment of open inquiry and intellectual vitality. While institutional neutrality ensures that no single viewpoint is collectively imposed, constructive disagreement empowers individuals within our community to test ideas, challenge assumptions, and engage one another in thoughtful debate.
In the classroom, that commitment translates into inviting vigorous discussion, prompting students to question orthodoxies, and modeling the kind of intellectual courage that defines great leadership. During their first summer, students are introduced to methods of constructive disagreement and given opportunities to practice them.
We encourage students to take opposing viewpoints and argue for them—not as an exercise in confrontation, but to sharpen their critical thinking and reasoning skills and build shared understanding across differences. Our goal is to foster an environment where ideas are challenged, not people, and where engagement with complex global issues is guided by openness, curiosity, and dialogue. Through this ethos of constructive disagreement, the Lauder Institute prepares leaders who can navigate diverse perspectives with empathy, insight, and confidence.
