Steven Pinker, Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard and Bertha Madras, Professor of Psychobiology at Harvard Medical School write about why they have spearheaded the Council on Academic Freedom at Harvard University.

Concerned that academics with hetorodox ideas and disfavoured opinions are being unfairly threatened with boycotts and firings, Pinker and Madras seek to see reason and rational debate take the place of outrage and repression on campus.

As they write, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, and if we don’t defend academic freedom, we should not be surprised when politicians try to do it for us or a disgusted citizenry writes us off.".