More than 550 Dartmouth community members are speaking out in support of College President Sian Leah Beilock’s approach to free speech on campus and response to federal actions under the Trump administration. As of May 21, 557 individuals, including Dartmouth alumni, faculty, community members and students, have signed the Change.org petition.
The petition comes after Beilock declined to sign an American Association of Colleges and Universities letter condemning the Trump administration’s revocation of federal funding from higher education institutions. The letter was co-signed by over 650 university presidents, including the other Ivy League presidents.
Beilock later defended her decision in an email to campus, where she wrote that “letters are rarely effective tools to make change” and that she prefers “joining action-oriented coalitions.” She also announced her plans to travel to Washington D.C. to speak with elected officials, members of the Trump administration and other academic leaders.
The petition, which is addressed to the Board of Trustees, expresses support for Beilock’s strategy and asks the Board to “continue backing [Beilock]” as the College navigates “these complex times.”
“Many of us share concerns about recent federal actions that may undermine academic freedom at peer institutions,” the petition reads. “We believe President Beilock is taking a measured and deliberate approach — considering how best to respond in a way that serves both Dartmouth and the broader academic community.”
The petition also praises Beilock’s approach to free speech on campus.
“Her concrete efforts to promote open dialogue and build a robust free speech environment have distinguished Dartmouth from other institutions and positioned the College to lead, not follow,” the petition reads.
The Change.org petition was posted on April 25 by Dartmouth Free Speech Alliance member Jerry Hughes ’88, one of the students who participated in the 1986 sledgehammer attack on shanties that were built on the Green to protest South African Apartheid. He moderated a panel about free speech co-sponsored by Dartmouth Dialogues earlier this month.
In an interview with The Dartmouth, Hughes said his decision to publish the petition was made in “discussion” with other members of the DFSA — a group that aims to “advocate for a stronger free speech environment” at Dartmouth, according to their website.
Hughes added that the petition was drafted partly in response to another circulating petition calling on the College to condemn “attacks by our government on institutions of higher education.” The latter petition has gained 2,626 signatures.
“Knowing that there was a trustees meeting coming up, we thought that it would be good to show that there are many alumni who are supportive of what [Beilock] is doing,” Hughes said.
DFSA member and petition signatory Bill Hamlen ’84 said he and other DFSA members were “disappointed” that “more voices” were not supporting President Beilock’s approach.
“If you ask me, she is extraordinarily brave in what she’s done,” Hamlen said.
Paul Lazarow ’13 said he signed the petition to “show that now there are people who support Beilock and her recent actions.” Lazarow pointed to the Israel–Hamas War as an issue for which the College has provided a “forum” for open debate.
“It’s just one of those issues where you’re going to have really strong opinions on both sides,” Lazarow said. “I think that President Beilock got it right, that the university is supposed to be a forum for those issues.”
DFSA member and petition signatory Jeff Morris ’75 said that while he believes the College had become “ideologically homogeneous” under previous leadership, Beilock’s actions, such as her “brave space” initiative, have promoted campus discourse.
“I want loyal alums to understand what President Beilock is trying to accomplish,” Morris said.
Hamlen also asserted that free speech has improved under Beilock’s leadership. He pointed to the College’s policy of institutional restraint — which was adopted in December 2024 and prevents administration from making statements about issues unrelated to Dartmouth’s academic mission.
“I think that Dartmouth is five years ahead of our peers,” Hamlen said. “ ... That is just a prime example of, an amazing example of how the environment has shifted at Dartmouth under [Beilock’s] leadership.”
Hughes said he wants alumni to understand Dartmouth’s campus culture “from a free speech point of view.” He said he decided to write the petition because he believes other alumni are not aware that Beilock is “putting [free speech] on a much better path.”
Hughes ultimately hopes the petition will show Beilock that alumni support her actions.
“I think, importantly, we wanted to provide a mechanism for the president to know that there are people behind what she’s doing,” he said.
