On Friday, April 26, 2019, New University in Exile Consortium Scholars met at the New School for our Annual Scholars’ Conference. This year, the title of the conference was, “Academic Institutions Under Attack: Freedom of Inquiry at Risk.” 

The scholars discussed the attacks on universities and academic freedom in their home countries and how these have affected not only their own lives, but the nature of the universities.

Session 1: “The Role of the University”

What role does the university play in Turkey and Iran? How has this role been affected by the regimes now in power?

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

● Ahmet Çoymak, Barnard College, Turkey

● Savaş Ergül, Trinity College, Turkey

● Nazan Bedirhanoglu, Wellesley College, Turkey

● Kian Tajbakhsh, Columbia University, Iran

● Moderator: Alex Aleinikoff, University Professor and Director, Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility, The New School

Session 2: “Contemporary Attacks”

Speakers will discuss threats to higher education in their home countries and how their lives have been affected.

3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

● Gubad Ibadoghlu, Rutgers University, Azerbaijan

● Cem Özatalay, The New School, Turkey

● Binalakshmi Nepram, Connecticut College, India

● Sreang Heng, Harvard University, Cambodia

● Moderator: Elzbieta Matynia, Professor of Sociology and Liberal Studies, Founding Director, Transregional Center for Democratic Studies, The New School

Concluding Remarks: George Rupp, Former President, International Rescue Committee; President Emeritus, Columbia University; and President Emeritus, Rice University. 

This conference was free and open to the public.