Academic Freedom and Open Discourse

For over 100 years UNC Press has championed the principles of academic freedom, open discourse, and the free exchange of ideas—values essential to a democratic society and the pursuit of knowledge.

Recently, two of our Canadian authors, Nathan Kalman-Lamb and Derek Silva, both respected university scholars who have been critical of US policy on Palestine, faced restrictions on their ability to enter the country for a bookstore event for their new book, The End of College Football: On the Human Cost of an All-American Game. Nathan Kalman-Lamb was denied entry at the US border and informed that he would need to obtain a visa for future travel to the United States, and Derek Silva was able to attend the event, but has since had his NEXUS status revoked, affecting his ability to travel freely. These actions—occurring during heightened political tensions and renewed governmental restrictions on movement—raise concerns about the suppression of critical scholarship and the ability of international voices to engage in academic dialogue within the United States.

These developments echo other recent incidents of academic and historical inquiry being curtailed. This past week, Eric Muller, author of Lawyer, Jailer, Ally, Foe: Complicity and Conscience in America’s World War II Concentration Camps, faced an abrupt cancellation of a scheduled talk at a US Attorney’s Office, where he was set to speak on the role of lawyers in Nazi Germany. His lecture was reinstated after public outcry.

The increasing silencing of scholars—through travel bans, canceled talks, or broader efforts to suppress critical perspectives—requires collective attention. Censorship, whether direct or indirect, has no place in a society committed to intellectual inquiry. Scholars and writers play a vital role in examining and questioning the world around us, and efforts to silence or exclude critical perspectives undermines that mission.

As a university press, we stand with our authors and remain committed to amplifying the voices of those who challenge, investigate, and illuminate pressing issues from the past and of our time. We encourage readers to engage with works that provide historical and political context to the current moment, including the following recommended books concerning free speech, authoritarianism, and global struggles for justice.

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