The Princeton Open Campus Coalition is an undergraduate student organization that is dedicated to fostering a campus environment at Princeton University that is free of fear and intolerance. This is done by promoting free speech and academic freedom, encouraging free inquiry, civil dialogue, and robust discussions of all matters between all Princeton affiliates.
We welcome all students from all walks of life and beliefs who share the fundamental devotion to free speech. Currently, the organization aims to promote free speech themed events, for instance by the Federalist, and create an environment of civil discourse, through our Free Speech podcast where we invite faculty, students, and outside guest to discuss various subjects and present different opinions that are normally not brought up in conversation on controversial issues, and open discussions. We also aim to maintain communication with the administration and other constituents in the University to make sure that the ideas and free speech rights of all students and faculty are protected. We currently have a website pocc.princeton.edu where we currently have a list of books that present both sides/multiple perspectives on various topics from the American constitution to socialism, and we are in the process of conjuring a list of articles written by our members that pertain to free speech.
In the spirit of our mission, we aim to cultivate an environment where Princeton affiliates can comfortably express their opinions without fear of professional repercussions or social ostracization. During a time of political polarization, that mission is more important than ever.
Why is free speech important at Princeton University?
Free speech and academic freedom allows for Princeton students and faculty to not only learn and grow in their own knowledge about different issues or topics, but they also allow for them to challenge and reinforce their own beliefs. Such is necessary for academic and social progress.
The beginnings of POCC:
POCC was established in the fall of 2015 in response to the sit-in at President Christopher Eisgruber’s office and protests led by the Black Justice League. At that time, the group wrote a letter decrying that the protest efforts and proposals stifled forums of debate and would potentially infringe on the free speech rights of students and faculty. Joshua Zuckerman, a co-founder of the group, testified in 2016 to the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, saying that some of the protestor demands would have “especially chilling effects on academic discourse.” The work that the early iteration of POCC did would later reach the national spere and media outlets, including a spot on the National Association of Scholars’2015 Top 10 Influencers in Higher Education list. The founding members Joshua Freeman and Joshua Zuckerman were also featured in a 2016 New York Times write-up on student activists.
In 2020, the POCC reunited in response to a student-led petition and demands for an anti-racist administration and policy changes at Princeton. They declared in an open letter to President Eisgruber that they “strongly oppo[ed] politicization of the curriculum by requiring courses that reflect a certain ideological commitment.” You can find the letter here. Recently they have been awarded the Open Inquiry Award by the Heterodox Academy for their efforts over the summer and it is a hope that this would inspire students across the nation to take a confident stand in pushing back against the illiberal forces that continue to dominant our universities.