Statement from the President
Sept. 12, 2025

This week’s events have understandably sent waves of fear through university communities across the country.

I want to reassure everyone in the University of Michigan community that your safety is, and will remain, our highest priority. We are increasing our resources and vigilance to ensure the well-being of all students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

I have dedicated my life in higher education and in the military to protecting our most fundamental values, including the right to disagree and to dissent in strong, even objectionable terms. 

The University of Michigan remains steadfast in our commitment to the U.S. Constitution and its First Amendment. Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of American democracy and higher education, and it must be preserved. I have long emphasized the importance of civil discourse in society, with the hope and expectation that our campus can serve as a model for how to engage in fraught and divisive issues with candor, curiosity, and civility.

Sadly some members of our community have responded with words that appear to downplay or even defend violence in support of certain goals. I wholly reject those views. Let me be clear: any calls to violence or expressions of support for violence – no matter the cause – must be condemned without hesitation. We must meet critical issues with courage and conviction, but never with violence.

At Michigan, we expect our community to embody the highest ideals of the academy: to use one’s voice in ways that strengthen the university, foster trust within the wider community, and exemplify principled leadership for the nation. 

Domenico Grasso, PhD
President