Message from Provost Cyril Clarke: Civil Discourse and the Role of Faculty as Scholars, Citizens, and Role Models

Dear colleagues,

Universities are, at their core, places where ideas are shared, debated, and tested. Civil discourse and respectful disagreement are not only welcome here—they are essential to who we are. In times of controversy and division in society, we have a special obligation as scholars, colleagues, and citizens to listen with openness, to engage with respect, and to make room for perspectives that differ from our own. 

As faculty members, we hold rights that are central to our role in the university. We enjoy academic freedom in our teaching and research, which is essential to the advancement of knowledge and the education of our students. We also hold the same First Amendment rights as other citizens when acting in our personal capacity. These rights are fundamental, but they also carry important obligations. 

The Faculty Handbook, Section 2.29: Community, articulates these obligations clearly: 

“As members of the larger community, we have the same rights and obligations as other citizens. We measure the importance of these rights and obligations in light of our responsibilities to our disciplines, to our professions, to our students, and to Virginia Tech. When we speak or act as private persons, we avoid creating the impression of speaking or acting for Virginia Tech. As citizens engaged in a profession that depends upon freedom for its welfare and integrity, we have a particular obligation to promote conditions of free inquiry and of further public understanding of academic freedom.”

In practice, this means that while faculty may exercise their First Amendment rights as private citizens, those expressions must be balanced with professional responsibilities. At times, there may be tension between individual expression and the university’s obligation to ensure that all faculty can effectively carry out their teaching, research, and service responsibilities. Navigating this tension requires judgment, care, and awareness of our dual roles as both private citizens and members of a scholarly community. Polemical statements on social media, particularly on socially charged issues, rarely manage this balance well. 

We must also remember that as faculty we serve as role models for our students. They look to us not only for subject-matter expertise but also for examples of how to engage in civil discourse, how to weigh evidence and argument, and how to treat others with respect even amid disagreement. This role carries obligations: to demonstrate fairness, to foster environments where all students feel welcome to contribute, and to embody the values of tolerance and openness that underpin a thriving academic community. 

I encourage all of us to return often to our Principles of Community, which remind us that we are committed to mutual respect and human dignity. Living by these principles strengthens our community and ensures that our campus remains a place where every voice can be heard, different viewpoints are respected, and every person belongs. By upholding both our rights and our obligations as faculty, we strengthen the integrity of our work, serve as positive models for our students, and preserve the vitality of our academic community.

Thank you for sharing this message with your faculty colleagues and for your leadership in helping us maintain a university environment where scholarship and learning thrive.

Cyril