To preserve its historic commitment to free speech and complywith Massachusetts civil rights protections, Harvard must resist the temptation to censor speech merely because it is offensive. Instead, Harvard should define sexual harassment for disciplinary purposes as a pattern of activity or speech by one student that unreasonably interferes with the work performance, bodily security, physical movement, or privacy rights of the affected student. Although it can be costly to those who are offended by new and different ideas, freedom of speech is priceless. It preserveshuman dignity by allowing all of us to express our individuality. And it shelters initially unpopular truths from suppression, enabling them to ultimately win out through competition in themarketplace of ideas.
Free speech is the foundation of a tolerant society.