Professor Derek Peterson backed by unions over academic freedom row
Updated
Updated · aaup.org · May 5
Professor Derek Peterson backed by unions over academic freedom row
5 articles · Updated · aaup.org · May 5
The AAUP and AFT urged the University of Michigan to guarantee Peterson faces no discipline over commencement remarks that triggered calls from politicians and officials for investigation, punishment or dismissal.
The unions said his comments were protected faculty speech and warned the pressure campaign and the university administration's public response risked chilling debate and inviting partisan interference in campus life.
They called on the university to reject outside attempts to police academic expression and reaffirm academic freedom and shared governance amid what they described as growing political attacks on faculty speech.
As political pressure mounts on universities, who now decides the real limits of academic freedom?
Can universities simultaneously uphold free inquiry and maintain institutional neutrality in an era of deep societal division?
Professor Derek Peterson’s Controversial 2026 UMich Speech Ignites Campus and National Free Speech Crisis
Overview
On May 2, 2026, Professor Derek Peterson delivered a commencement speech at the University of Michigan praising pro-Palestinian student activists and challenging the idea that graduations should be apolitical. The university administration quickly responded with a public apology and removed the speech video, sparking strong reactions. Regents demanded punitive actions, while faculty unions and over 1,100 faculty, staff, and students defended Peterson’s academic freedom. The controversy intensified with political threats to cut funding and warnings from federal officials. Peterson faced numerous hostile messages and received limited institutional support beyond security. This incident unfolded amid a tense campus climate shaped by prior restrictions on pro-Palestinian activism, highlighting deep divisions over free speech and institutional governance.