Penn State acknowledged the controversial speakers set to make appearances this fall semester that may “spark controversy on campus” in a statement released Wednesday.

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is set to appear in October at the Thomas Building with Turning Point USA and Charlie Kirk, who came to Penn State in mid-September. Uncensored America is set to bring a debate on the presidential election to the HUB on Monday, September 30.

To uphold the constitutional principles of free expression under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Penn State said it’s committed to “fostering a diverse and robust exchange of ideas” to ensure that all viewpoints are heard.

“It can be challenging for our community members to understand why we uphold the protection of free expression, even when faced with hateful and offensive statements from some speakers,” Vice President for Student Affairs Andrea Dowhower said. “Like all public universities, we are not only bound by law to protect speech, but we also support it as foundational to all that we do. This commitment promotes discourse that encourages critical thinking and prepares our students to engage thoughtfully with diverse perspectives in a democratic society.” 

Penn State included a wide range of resources and information in the statement to help further educate all community members about how the university remains committed to the First Amendment.

Although Penn State allows approved student organizations to invite guest speakers from outside the school, it is not allowed to select speakers based solely on the subject matter of their speeches, as the law requires them to remain unbiased and hold a neutral stance.

“We support the free speech rights of those who wish to protest peacefully against speech or activities with which they disagree,” Dowhower said. “For our students, responsible and peaceful involvement or demonstration is not a violation of the student code of conduct. However, employing violence or threatening violence, or disrupting the normal functions of the university are not permissible actions.” 

University Police Chief Wes Sheets said the safety of the campus community is the top priority for campus police, encouraging those planning to protest to coordinate with the police to ensure their actions comply with the law and the Student Code of Conduct. Sheets reminded faculty, staff, students, and visitors to follow legal and conduct guidelines during all campus events.