Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville Hosts Chancellor Daniel Diermeier

Discussion of principled neutrality and campus protests held in Vanderbilt University

The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville facilitated a lively discussion featuring Chancellor Daniel Diermeier on June 10, engaging in principal neutrality and incidents of campus protests. Rabbi Dan Horowitz, CEO of the Jewish Federation, moderated the conversation that had around 35 in-person attendees and more than 50 virtual spectators tuning into the livestream.

However, Chancellor Diermeier’s participation at the event faced backlash from the Vanderbilt Divest Coalition and the Palestine Hurra Collective. These groups argued that the Chancellor speaking at the event was contradictory to the stance he supports of principleness neutrality.

Understanding of Principled Neutrality

In the discussion, Diermeier explained that principled neutrality means if the university is not required to comment on a specific issue, then it should remain silent. He added that with issues that are not core to the functioning of the university, the university will not take a formal position.

Diermeier also discussed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, sharing that its concept opposes the idea of principal neutrality. Despite calls from BDS supporters to divest funds from Israel, the Chancellor stated, “We’re not going to do that.”

Views on Campus Protests

The discussion further touched upon campus protests, particularly the March 26 sit-in inside Kirkland Hall. Reiterating his stance on the incident, Diermeier labelled the community’s response as “very positive”. He also mentioned that the sit-in was an “isolated incident”.

The Chancellor also stated that any violation of the student code of conduct during protests will have consequences, expressing support for the results of the student accountability process.

The Future of Vanderbilt Univeristy and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

As the discussion progressed, Diermeier expressed his excitement for the continued growth of Vanderbilt University while emphasizing the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. He reiterated that students who find Vanderbilt to be a good fit should be able to attend, regardless of their background.

Challenging situations, according to Diermeier, arise when university values are taken over by political ideology. He encouraged universities to stay out of political debates and contentious policies, emphasizing the need for a space where such issues can be debated freely.

Response to the Event

The Vanderbilt Divest Coalition called out Chancellor Dieomeir’s participation at the event as hypocritical and contradictory to his stance of principled neutrality, while urging universities to live by the principles they set and holding them accountable.

Overall, the dialogue has fostered a deeper understanding and raised questions about principled neutrality, campus protest, and the role of universities. This conversation not only reaffirms the principle of freedom of speech in academic institutions but also underlines the importance of dialogues in resolving conflicts and addressing contentious topics.