The Use and Misuse of Institutional Neutrality

When “neutrality” looks like censorship: the fine line between principle and politics.

Last week, Purdue University ended its special relationship with a major independent student newspaper, The Exponent. This special relationship went back 50 years and involved Purdue granting The Exponent several privileges, among them in recent times the use of Purdue’s Materials Management Distribution Center to distribute hard copies of The Exponent throughout campus; the use of Purdue’s name in The Exponent’s masthead and web URL; and provision of free parking passes for The Exponent’s staff. In making the move to end these perks, in addition to the lack of a contract between Purdue and The Exponent since June 2014, Purdue’s legal counsel also cited its institutional neutrality policy as a ground for ending the special relationship.

Purdue has come under criticism for its decision. A spokesperson for FIRE said that “[b]reaking long-standing practice to hinder student journalism is not a sign of institutional neutrality; it is a sign of institutional cowardice.”

Indeed, if Purdue or any other institution of higher education invokes institutional neutrality as a ground to suppress the free expression of opinions by faculty, students, or student groups, they betray not only a misunderstanding of what institutional neutrality calls for, but also the principles of open inquiry and the free exchange of ideas that justify policies of institutional neutrality. In the words of the Kalven Report, institutional neutrality “arises out of respect for free inquiry and the obligation to cherish a diversity of viewpoints.” Institutional neutrality does not justify muzzling students or faculty.

However, further reflection on just what Purdue has done in ending its special relationship with The Exponent suggests that there is no betrayal of the motivating principles behind institutional neutrality. By ending its special relationship with, and consequent subsidies for, The Exponent, Purdue has chosen to treat it like any other self-described independent student news organization. (The Exponent proudly proclaims on its “about” page that it has, since 1969, been “jurisdictionally and financially independent of the university.”) It would be inequitable for The Exponent to have privileges denied to other independent student news organizations.

Granting of special privileges and perks to The Exponent may further give the impression that it is, in fact, a news agency of Purdue, and even speaks in some way for the university. Here is, perhaps, why Purdue’s counsel cited institutional neutrality as another reason for ending its special relationship with The Exponent: Purdue does not want to mislead anyone into thinking that The Exponent is an official organ of the university, especially if publishing political position pieces from the Editorial Board.

Yet the timing of this decision raises legitimate questions. Recognizing that student journalism can be an important path of learning, many universities and colleges give support to their independent student newspapers, generally providing substantial resources while respecting editorial independence (a core journalistic value) through formal charters. Purdue’s in-state sibling, Indiana University has such an arrangement with the Indiana Daily Student. Given the current political climate in Indiana, where the Lieutenant Governor has reportedly made noise about “taking down” IU's student paper, Purdue’s invocation of institutional neutrality now, after 50 years of support, may invite scrutiny. Even if the principle is sound, the timing may create unfortunate perceptions about the university's motives.

Of course, Purdue and other institutions of higher education should be vigilant against the misuse of institutional neutrality to suppress discussion and expression among students and faculty. Policies of institutional neutrality are, first and foremost, constraints on the institution and its leaders to avoid closing down open inquiry and the free exchange of ideas of individuals within the campus community.

According to the letter from the university’s counsel, though Purdue will no longer subsidize The Exponent’s distribution using university resources, The Exponent may still use free on-campus distribution racks to share hard copies of its publication with the student body, just like other independent student news organizations. It has not been banned from operating on campus. The Exponent, as far as public record shows, still has the right to participate in the free exchange of ideas on Purdue’s campus, in accordance with what the Kalven Report says: “to provide a forum for the most searching and candid discussion of public issues.”

At Heterodox Academy, we appreciate the attention being paid to how institutional neutrality is being employed in practice. Institutional neutrality represents a vital tool in the toolbox of positive campus change. Learn more in our special report on the recent wave of adoptions of institutional neutrality, and read about how institutional neutrality can be practiced with care by clicking here.