Who we are and why we are here
Retired Indiana University Bloomington faculty established the Traveling University (TRU) in response to escalating attacks on the fundamental mission of all universities: the unfettered production and dissemination of knowledge and understanding in the public interest. Federal and state officials are eroding the ability of faculty to teach and conduct research free from interference. Here and elsewhere, universities have allowed this to happen, depriving the public of essential knowledge and faculty of their academic freedom.
We were inspired to act by Polish dissidents in the 1970s and 1980s who resisted autocratic attacks on their universities. They fought to preserve academic freedom by taking education out of university halls and into their communities. Their “flying universities” offered free and accessible courses by experts on critical issues banned from public discussion by the authorities.
We will do the same. We will defend academic freedom and the right to learn by creating spaces in our community where faculty can teach the most important findings of their disciplines without fear of censorship or reprisal. We will offer lectures and seminars on vital topics drawn from across the disciplines like immigration, climate change, racism, censorship, criminal justice, and the media. And we will fight to preserve and disseminate knowledge and understanding that might otherwise be lost.
The Traveling University will be open to all. There will be no fees, no certificates or diplomas; just the free exchange of ideas in conversations led by knowledgeable faculty in a welcoming environment. All we ask in return is civility and an inquiring mind.
Contact us
Interested in learning more about our lectures? Provide us with a little info and we will keep you in the loop. We can’t wait to hear from you!