Building a Support Base

Building a Support Base for Academic Excellence On-Campus

Good morning, Sun Devils—we hope you’re enjoying the dog days of summer, despite the record highs. We have short update for you this month, but rest assured, it is chock full of exciting updates, including opportunities for you to get further involved in our work.

Updates

• ASU AFS leadership continues to meet with ASU faculty: Chairman Joe Pitts and Operations Director Landon Miller met with ASU faculty members, and plan to meet with more in the coming months, to discuss how ASU AFS can build out a support network of current ASU faculty interested in promoting viewpoint diversity, free speech, academic freedom, and academic excellence on campus. If you are a faculty member or know a faculty member interested in working with us, please reach out via email: asualumniforfreespeech@gmail.com.

• ASU AFS leadership working with campus student organizations to establish a student committee on-campus: Chairman Joe Pitts met with ASU student leaders to lay the groundwork for a student committee that deepends ASU AFS’s relationship with current students. If you are a student or know a student interested in working with us, please reach out via email: asualumniforfreespeech@gmail.com.

• Get involved as a member: If you’re interested in learning more about ASU Alumni for Free Speech, become a member today. It’s as simple as filling out this form. Membership is free and gives you access to an exclusive set of benefits, such as access to our monthly newsletter, invitations to exclusive alumni events, and regular virtual and in-person membership meetings.
  
  Become a member

• Get involved as a donor: If you are in a position to give—or know someone who might be in a position to give—please contact us at asualumniforfreespeech@gmail.com. Donations are tax-deductible, and should be addressed to the 1912 Institute (with whom we have a partnership). Some additional links that may be helpful:

  • ASU AFS Donor Tiers

  • ASU AFS One-Pager

  • Business plan available upon request

News

• ASU professor says he was penalized over alleged “Christian bias”: Arizona State University philosophy professor Owen Anderson says he received a lower performance evaluation after students complained that his ethics course reflected a Christian perspective. University administrators cited anonymous student concerns about classroom discussions and assignments, while Anderson argues he was teaching foundational philosophical ideas through widely accepted texts. The case has renewed debate over academic freedom and whether professors should face professional consequences based on students’ perceptions of ideological bias.

• Federal appeals court rejects Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act”: In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act” violates the First Amendment by restricting what professors can teach at public colleges and universities. The court rejected the state’s argument that professors speak solely on behalf of the government, reaffirming that academic freedom protects faculty from viewpoint-based restrictions in the classroom.

• ASU recognized as a leader in preparing AI-ready graduates: Arizona State University was ranked No. 4 among U.S. public universities for preparing graduates to lead in an AI-driven workforce. The recognition highlights ASU’s continued investment in integrating artificial intelligence across disciplines and equipping students with practical AI skills that employers increasingly value.

• Justice Department launches Title VI investigation into DEI programs at Arizona State University: The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a Title VI civil rights investigation into Arizona State University’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. The investigation will examine whether any university policies or programs resulted in discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. ASU has stated that it complies with federal law and does not discriminate in its admissions or educational programs.

As a reminder, ASU AFS’s core principles

• Academic freedom: Faculty and academics require academic freedom, within appropriate bounds, to expand our shared knowledge.

• Free speech on campus: Students deserve to have their voices heard on campus – so that they can better learn how to be citizens.

• Academic excellence: Students should be held to a high standard of excellence, rejecting mediocrity.

Additional items

• New website: Earlier this year we launched our brand new website. You can view it here. The website displays our mission/vision, profiles members of our board, republishes all of our newsletters, and provides pathways for new members to join and current and prospective members to donate to our cause.

• Board: We recently announced our inaugural board, consisting of Sun Devils ranging from the class of 2015 to the class of 2023: Joe Pitts, Chairman (ASU ‘23), Landon Miller, Operations Director (ASU ‘22), Jen Springman, Boardmember (ASU ‘16), and Celeste Robertson, Boardmember (ASU ‘15). We are also pleased to announce that Sean Paige (ASU ‘85), one of our original cofounders, is joining us as a senior advisor.

Best regards,

Joe Pitts

Chairman, ASU Alumni for Free Speech