Joint Statement in Support of the Smithsonian Institution

The American Association of Colleges and Universities, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Phi Beta Kappa Society affirm our support for free inquiry and expression at the Smithsonian Institution.

Our organizations believe that cultural vibrancy is a cornerstone of American democracy. The ability to discuss and examine ideas widely is essential to our missions and a free society. A common ground for learning and inquiry, research institutions and museums represent these ideals at the highest levels and provide access to them for all.

The Smithsonian is one of the world’s foremost research centers in science, arts, and humanities. Efforts to suppress inquiry, curb discussion, and limit what the Smithsonian can research, discuss, or share violate the basic principles of free inquiry and expression essential to the pursuit of knowledge that benefits all Americans.

To best serve the nation, research institutions and museums require transparent academic excellence, intellectual inquiry, free expression, and civil discourse. The freedom to ask hard questions and consider alternative perspectives is key to both the development of citizens and the health of our democracy. It is incumbent on our governmental institutions to share and support this commitment.

As historian and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom John Hope Franklin observed: “The love of learning is one of the most powerful values we can teach the generations to come. It has been a backbone of American pride and achievement, and essential to freedom of thought and individual liberty. It is the envy of other societies that seek the kind of freedom of inquiry we have. Lose that and we lose something very principled and very American.”