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The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University

The Daily Free Press

The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University.

The Daily Free Press

The Daily Free Press

Nathan Philips, a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Earth and Environment, and Alice Arena hold signs at Philips’ demonstration at Marsh Plaza March 5. Philips regularly uses his office window on the fourth floor of BU’s College of Arts and Sciences to display political messages to passersby along Commonwealth Avenue. PHOTO BY PHOEBE MILLER

‘Say his name’: BU faculty, graduate workers reflect on University responses to political speech

Lauren Albano March 30, 2025
With the recent executive crackdown on universities for pro-Palestine activism, the incident with Phillips’ signage sparked dialogue among BU faculty and students over administrative responses to free speech on campus.
Boston University Students for Justice in Palestine members participating in a “study-in” at the Duan Family Center for Computing and Data Sciences Nov. 6. After the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil for his participation in pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University, national concern sparked over how President Donald Trump’s immigration policy could be used to target student activists. KATE KOTLYAR/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Detention of Columbia’s Mahmoud Khalil raises concerns over protest rights at BU

Sangmin Song March 21, 2025
At Boston University, a hot spot for pro-Israel and pro-Palestine student activism, the events at Columbia have raised pressing questions around student protesters’ First Amendment protections and the response of University authorities to federal orders.
Boston University’s 11th President, Melissa Gilliam. Gilliam stated it is important for her to work with student leaders on campus, including those from the BU Graduate Workers Union and ResLife Unions. ZACH SCHWARTZ/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

New BU president pushes for unity, progress ahead of inauguration

Kayla Baltazar September 13, 2024
BU's new president, Melissa Gilliam, sets goals for the future of the University.
Tents in a pro-Palestinian encampment at Massachusetts Institute of Technology on April 23. After more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University were arrested during a pro-Palestinian encampment protest last Thursday, university students are now setting up their own encampments after Columbia called for students to replicate the protest. ANDREW BURKE-STEVENSON/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

Emerson, MIT student groups set up camp amid student arrests across country

Anna Rubenstein April 24, 2024
The first day of Passover happened rather unceremoniously in the 2 Boylston St. alley. Grape juice and paper seder plates bordered a dinner table thrown together with copies of Emerson College’s student newspaper, sprawled long across the brick ground. 
Widener Library at Harvard University. Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned from her position on Tuesday following controversies around a congressional hearing on antisemitism and allegations of plagiarism in her academic work. HUI-EN LIN/DFP FILE

Harvard President Claudine Gay resigns, raising new questions

Matthew Eadie January 5, 2024
Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned on Tuesday following a months-long controversy surrounding her comments towards antisemitism on campus and allegations of plagiarism in her academic work. With the resignation, however, some are questioning the motivations behind the push to oust the University’s top official. 
Chloe Patel | Senior Graphic Artist

EDITORIAL: Tolerating the intolerable — the price of free speech

Editors April 3, 2023
Freedom of speech is a right against legal repercussions, not against social consequences.
Smaran Ramidi / DFP Staff

EDITORIAL: Billionaire buys Twitter, could have ended world hunger at fraction of price

Editors April 27, 2022
Instead of looking at the absurdity of splurging $44 billion on Twitter, we should focus on the absurdity of having $44 billion to spend in the first place.
babam musician plays a tuba at an aclu march

Boston remains soundtracked by protest

Jesús Marrero Suárez April 8, 2021
The Boston Area Brigade of Activist Musicians draw inspiration from New Orleans street bands.
Luca Becker

I Call Foul Play: Cancel culture is counterproductive to the justice movement

Luca Becker February 19, 2021
Cancel culture is appealing because it gives those participating in the “canceling” the false satisfaction of justice being served. But those who value true justice must caution against cancel culture and recognize it is the very thing it hopes to destroy: injustice.
OP-ED: American democracy isn't on the brink of collapse — it doesn't exist

OP-ED: American democracy isn’t on the brink of collapse — it doesn’t exist

Editors January 16, 2021
While some may claim our society is a democracy, we in fact spend most of our time adhering to policies of unelected leaders.
East to West: September 30, 2019

East to West: September 30, 2019

JenRacoosin September 30, 2019

In this episode of “East to West,” we cover a campus free speech forum, Boston’s new initiative on surveillance cameras, and the 50th anniversary of BU’s African American Studies program. This...

A student speaks at a February 2018 rally at Boston University’s Marsh Plaza. The university’s Free Speech Committees announced on Aug. 26 upcoming forums that would address various topics regarding campus inclusivity and freedom. LEXI PLINE/ DFP FILE

BU Free Speech Committees announce events for student input

Daily Free Press Staff September 5, 2019
Boston University Provost Jean Morrison announced Aug. 26 the university’s Free Speech Committees, which were formed in February, will be holding forums for students to provide input on free speech, guest speakers, inclusivity and students’ rights on campus.
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