New York, NY — October 2025 — Scholars at Risk (SAR) convened its U.S. Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference on October 9–10, 2025, at New York University, gathering domestic and international experts to address escalating pressures on academic freedom in the United States and worldwide.
The two-day event featured representatives from PEN America, the AAUP Center for Academic Freedom, the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), the Knight First Amendment Institute, NADOHE, Education4All, and other leading organizations. Participants explored threats to academic freedom, legal strategies for protecting university autonomy, and approaches to safeguarding research and teaching on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Panels paired U.S. higher education leaders with international discussants from Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Americas, offering a comparative perspective on the global academic freedom landscape.
The conference also marked the launch of SAR’s 25th anniversary year, celebrated with an evening reception featuring reflections from assisted scholars and remarks by playwright and Vassar College professor Achiro P. Olwoch, who emphasized, “SAR reminds us that ideas cannot be imprisoned, that creativity cannot be legislated away, and that academic and artistic freedom are not privileges: they are essential to our humanity.”
In conjunction with the conference, SAR released its Free to Think 2025 report, documenting 395 attacks on higher education communities across 49 countries. The report notes a rise in incidents even within historically liberal environments, including the United States, and urges policymakers and university leaders to strengthen protections for academic freedom. Coverage of the report appeared in The Guardian, Times Higher Education, University World News, and other outlets.
SAR continues to expand its advocacy and outreach, launching a new U.S. Bulletin to track national developments affecting academic freedom and inviting institutions to host at-risk scholars seeking placements in research and teaching positions around the world.
Upcoming SAR and Partner Events
- Workshop: Redesigning Your Professional Materials — October 23, 2025 (Virtual)
- Conference: Intellectual Freedom in Southeast Asia and the United States — October 24, 2025 (NYU Wagner)
- European Student Advocacy Days 2026 — February 19–20, 2026 (Innsbruck, Austria)
SAR encourages supporters to join the network, host scholars, and contribute to sustaining a global movement for academic freedom.
For more information, visit www.scholarsatrisk.org