From Academic Freedom to Defending Democracy: Our Task in 2026

Although universities have conducted their affairs within monarchies and even dictatorships, modern higher education has often flourished by being part of an ecosystem defined by broad freedoms of inquiry and speech. In 2026, these freedoms are increasingly challenged.  In response to this situation, Dr. Michael Roth, the President of Wesleyan University, will deliver a lecture examining the state of higher education, and discussing how defending our democracy and restoring our ecosystem of freedoms provides the key to revitalizing the higher education sector.

The Public Culture Project is proud to co-sponsor the annual Renato Poggioli Lecture, which is organized by the Department of Comparative Literature, and has been delivered by the likes of Harry Levin, Tsvetan Todorov and Jacques Derrida.