1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I am writing to you as your constituent and as someone who cares deeply about the independence and credibility of Iowa’s public universities. I support open inquiry and the free exchange of ideas in higher education. At the same time, I am concerned about the creation and early direction of the University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom. Because this Center was created through state action and operates within a public, taxpayer-funded institution, I believe it raises important questions about how academic decisions are being made and whether political priorities could influence teaching, hiring, or research. I am hoping you will raise the following questions with the University of Iowa and the Center for Intellectual Freedom and request clear, written answers. • What academic need does the Center for Intellectual Freedom serve that is not already addressed by existing University of Iowa departments such as history, political science, law, or philosophy, and how was that need identified? • Who has final authority over curriculum, academic programming, and research connected to the Center, and do those decisions remain with faculty through normal academic governance, or can they be influenced by advisory bodies or the Board of Regents? • What safeguards are in place to prevent political influence in hiring decisions, curriculum design, or research priorities associated with the Center? • What authority does the Center’s advisory council hold, how are its members selected, and how are they held accountable—particularly when members are not affiliated with the University of Iowa or the state of Iowa? • How is the Center funded and evaluated, and how will the public be assured that it exists to support academic standards and intellectual freedom rather than advance partisan goals? I respectfully ask that you request written responses to these questions and encourage the University to make those responses public. Careful oversight at this stage can help ensure that this Center strengthens, rather than undermines, trust in Iowa’s public universities. Protecting intellectual freedom means protecting the independence of academic institutions from political pressure, regardless of which party is in power. I would appreciate knowing whether you are able to raise these concerns and what response you receive. Thank you for your time and for representing our district.