Afternoon Briefing: University of Chicago receives $100 million to support free speech

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Good afternoon, Chicago.

The University of Chicago has received a $100 million gift from an anonymous donor to support free expression, marking what may be the largest-ever single donation to support such values in higher education, the university announced Thursday.

In addition to generally supporting the university’s “leadership on the principles and practice of free expression,” the gift will fund the programming of the University of Chicago Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression, launched last year by university President Paul Alivisatos. Discussions surrounding the donation have been ongoing for over a year, according to a university spokesperson.

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