The Fight for Free Expression at Princeton Is Just Getting Started

When we started Princetonians for Free Speech four years ago, there were only two: Stuart Taylor Jr. ('70) and Ed Yingling ('70). They were motivated by a specific situation at Princeton in which students were being harassed for stating their views. They were further concerned about what Princeton, and other universities, had become and how far they had strayed from their missions.

They started to receive support from alumni they personally knew, and eventually, more and more alumni joined. They partnered with brave students who formed a group to promote free speech. In 2022, we hired our first full-time staff person and more recently, our second and the organization’s first ever Executive Director (hello!).

Herein, you’ll read about how PFS has grown rapidly and also get an inside look at how 2025 is shaping up to be our biggest year yet!

But first, I would like to share my excitement and pride in becoming the inaugural Executive Director at PFS. Since my start in January, I have met supporters such as yourself, Princeton faculty, and dedicated alumni who understand the importance of our mission both to restore free expression and academic freedom on campus and be thought leaders for free speech in academia nation-wide.

This is a critical time for Princeton. In the last week, the Trump administration paused over $200 million in federal research grants, calling into question Princeton’s policies on antisemitism. Now, more than ever, it is crucial for alumni to stay informed on these issues. The best way for alumni to do so is to engage with PFS, support our efforts, and help us be a meaningful voice to the Princeton administration and Board of Trustees.

Did you know:

Princeton is ranked a dismal 223 out of 251 schools in the 2025 College Free Speech Rankings, as published by the Foundation for Individual Right and Expression (FIRE).

With your support, we will continue to grow our reach and influence. We now fund seven paid employees and interns, complementing five pro bono Executive Committee members (all graduates). Not only has our staff grown in recent months, but also our Board of Directors. We are thrilled to announce the following additions: Myles McKnight ‘23 and Frannie Block ‘22. As recent graduates, their experiences on campus are extremely valuable in helping us understand the ways in which we can be influential while better understanding the current culture on campus. This growth is a prime example of how our place in the Princeton community is not only appreciated, but needed.

The recent growth at PFS not only comes from our team, but also new free speech advocates joining the conversation. In just 5 months we have grown our subscriber base by over 400%. We’re now reaching 7,700+ alumni every week, and have a goal to increase that number to 10,000+ in the near-term. Our ability to reach alumni en masse will help us leverage your voices and put pressure on the Princeton administration.

Opportunities to get involved

PFS relies entirely on financial contributions from supporters of our cause such as yourself. All donations to PFS are tax deductible and directly support the promotion of open discourse on campus, resources for students or faculty whose rights are infringed, and hold the Princeton administration accountable to the values they promote.

Please consider joining our Inner Circle discussions. Led by Programs Manager Matthew Wilson ‘24, these virtual events are a great way to get to know leaders in the college free speech movement in an intimate setting on a monthly basis.

In October, we held our first-ever regional event in Santa Barbara, CA. Local Princeton alumni heard about the effect PFS is having in the Princeton community. Princeton Open Campus Coalition (POCC) President Zach Gardner ‘26 provided the student point of view on his thoughts on the current state of free speech on campus. Finally, we were joined by The Coddling of the American Mind producers, Ted and Courtney Balaker, and attendees enjoyed a 15 minute clip from the movie.

We hope to reach Princeton alumni all over the country by hosting more regional events in partnership with Alumni Associations in major cities. Please email us at updates@princetoniansforfreespeech.org if you’re interested in having an event come to your city.

The latest from campus

In February, Kaleigh Cunningham, Director of Outreach and Communications, and I spent time on campus. We met with students and faculty, as well as some Princeton administrators. We sat down with two Deans and discussed ways we can help the University live up to its mission of encouraging open discourse and debate on campus. The meetings were pleasant and we found many ways in which our goals align. We will continue to develop these types of fruitful relationships between PFS and the Princeton administration.

While on campus, we also attended a debate hosted by POCC, which we helped fund alongside the Steamboat Institute. This debate between Josh Hammer of Newsweek and Dave Smith of the Part of the Problem podcast brought in over 130 in-person attendees, and 900 folks tuning into the livestream. If you missed this thought-provoking event, we encourage you to watch the replay. We support student events is to show that open debate and dissenting viewpoints are beneficial to the campus culture and strengthen student’s ability to form their own opinions about the world around them.

We have existing relationships with a handful of student-led organizations, and are actively working to identify more groups we can support, on all sides of the political spectrum.

What’s next – and how YOU can help

What started in 2020 with just two founders has grown into a true movement – at Princeton, and beyond.

We are thrilled so many new supporters – like you! – have joined our cause. Alumni have the ability, alongside faculty and students, to shape the future of Princeton. You must ask yourself: if not you, who? We are expanding our efforts, but to do that, we need additional funding, which means contributions from alumni like yourself. Please read our latest business report, which outlines our growth plans for 2025, and then consider your investment in PFS.

We also need more alumni (many more!) to join our efforts. The future of Princeton, and higher education, depends on your support. Please help us spread the word about Princetonians for Free Speech!

I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming Inner Circle meeting, or at reunions this May.