The mission of a university is to nurture free inquiry, educate citizens and build a community of learning that supports our democratic society. Free speech is a core tenet of that endeavor, providing an opportunity to learn how to engage in new ideas with curiosity, respect and intellectual rigor. Cherishing the First Amendment right to free speech means that there will be times in our campus community when ideas will be presented that some of us find offensive or just plain wrong. But fostering the ability to vigorously contest those ideas in a way that is civil, effective and responsible is essential to the PSU mission.
— President Ann E. Cudd