Golden State Today

In a divisive election year and with tensions high on campuses nationwide, the Berkeley Liberty Initiative (BLI) is beginning its next chapter under new program leadership and expanded outreach to students and faculty. It's also holding to its founding principles.

Over a decade ago, in the years leading up to UC Berkeley’s 50th anniversary commemoration of the Free Speech Movement, Frank E. Baxter led an effort to ensure that diversity of opinion remained a cornerstone of campus life. Baxter, a Berkeley Social Sciences alum and former U.S. ambassador to Uruguay, wanted to create a space at Berkeley for dissenting voices to participate in the marketplace of ideas. To do so, he established what has since been named the Berkeley Liberty Initiative — a series of lectures and campus activities promoting freedom of thought and diversity of perspective.

As UC Berkeley now celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Free Speech Movement, the BLI remains a fundamental part of that marketplace. In a divisive election year and with tensions high on campuses nationwide, the BLI is beginning its next chapter under new program leadership and expanded outreach to students and faculty. It’s also holding to its founding principles.

“Freedom of speech is in the DNA of UC Berkeley,” Baxter said. “The BLI was formed to explore the potential of, and the challenges to, liberty at Berkeley and in the world at large.”

Those ideas are especially important in our highly polarized times. Differences of opinion affect almost every aspect of our world, from our relationships and career choices to our homes and education. College campuses have been gathering places for protests across America, where tense battles over global affairs, domestic politics, and identity have erupted in recent months.

“What I most appreciate about the BLI is its commitment to our foundational principles of thoughtful, open dialogue,” said Berkeley Social Sciences Dean Raka Ray. “The opportunity to encounter ideas that may be radically different from one’s own is central to our dual mission of teaching and research at UC Berkeley. The BLI demonstrates that that mission is alive and well in both the Travers Department of Political Science and the Social Science Division, and enables us to keep it so.”

One of the BLI’s most prominent contributions to campus dialogue is the Ambassador Frank E. Baxter Lecture, an annual series that invites high-profile leaders to speak at UC Berkeley, broadening perspectives and sometimes spurring debate.

The lecture creates a platform for speakers with opposing viewpoints to hold respectful intellectual discourse where different opinions can be heard and understood.

Since its inception, this lecture has featured diverse speakers who bring unique insights into ongoing conversations about liberty.

Past lecturers have covered topics ranging from California’s cost-of-living issues to discussions on political parties' futures. Speakers have included Jennifer Burns from Stanford University; Matthew Continetti; historian Lee E. Ohanian from UCLA; among others.

This year’s talks have also tackled timely subjects. Keith Whittington from Yale Law School gave a lecture titled “Freedom of Thought and the Struggle to End Slavery” in May which examined connections between abolitionism movements & free speech advocacy.

In March 2024 former U.S Secretary Condoleezza Rice joined retired Chancellor Carol Christ discussing free speech within higher education—an event met by both praise & controversy due partly due audience protests regarding their respective roles within Bush administration policies & People Park redevelopment efforts respectively

“The BLI exists support open exchange ideas animating spirit university reason special role society cherished tradition here,” Sean Gailmard professor political science faculty director said "BLI events focus importance potential challenges open dialogue present range perspectives not always featured academic spaces."

Those involved say these lectures essential experiences equipping students tools engage difficult exchanges beyond lecture hall opportunities discuss intimate settings creating deeper understanding opposing viewpoints

Months ahead plans deepen student involvement taking events projects directly classroom working closely faculty understand address issues encountered teaching strengthen university connections beyond campus enhancing partnerships organizations advocating free expression like Heterodox Academy American Enterprise Institute Foundation Individual Rights Expression holding collaborative events community

Over last two years alumni helped define current expansion through service task force resulting committed alumni forming Founders Board helping expand magnify impact second decade remaining force free speech intellectual diversity

“We want help faculty develop students’ skills expressing hearing understanding ideas—even potentially controversial ones,” Gailmard said "These skills infrastructure open exchange cannot take them granted"