Yusuf Ahmed ’25, a first-generation student and biology major on the pre-med track from Toms River, New Jersey is almost always smiling. His cheerful attitude and positive disposition are driven by his deep faith in God, and his commitment to free speech and ideological diversity.
Student Spotlight: Yusuf Ahmed '25
Student Spotlight:
Your gift supports students like Yusuf
Yusuf's passion for fostering open dialogue is rooted in his commitment to making every student feel comfortable expressing their beliefs. As he puts it, “I am someone who rarely self-censors…however, I recognize that not many other students have this same mindset. I feel like a lot of times when I say something controversial in a classroom, I am not the only student who has that belief, but I’m one of the only students willing to voice it. I know that if I can help make other students feel comfortable voicing their opinions, it will make for a better, more comfortable class setting for many students, including myself.” Yusuf serves as the Vice President of the Davidson Free Speech Alliance and Secretary of the Muslim Students Association and uses these leadership positions to encourage his fellow students to speak more freely in hopes of creating a better, more inclusive learning environment.
The Davidsonians for Freedom of Thought and Discourse (DFTD) have played a crucial role in supporting students like Yusuf who champion ideological diversity. Reflecting on the ways DFTD supports the FSA, Yusuf says, “I am extremely grateful knowing that there is a large alumni group behind us providing support in many ways. I'm grateful for their generous gifts that allow us to bring speakers like Dr. John Rose to campus. I'm also extremely grateful for their attendance at our events and hope to see even more members at our next event so that they can see firsthand the amazing things we have been able to do with their help.”
Your support for DFTD can empower students like Yusuf to promote free speech and ideological diversity on campus. Please consider making your gift today and help students like Yusuf continue to have an impact inside, and outside, the classroom.
DFTD Newsletter 9/11/2025 The latest Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) survey results are here. While this year’s results show some consistency with previous years, they also highlight that significant work remains to build a campus culture where open dialogue and a wide range of viewpoints are welcomed at Davidson College. A concerning 60% of students remain uncomfortable disagreeing with a professor on controversial political topics in class, and nearly as many (58%) hesitate in written assignments. One in four students openly self-censor while interacting with professors at least a couple times a week, while 48% report feeling uncomfortable in classroom discussions. Outside the classroom, the problem worsens , where 70% of students are too afraid to express unpopular opinions on social media. Equally troubling are students’ attitudes toward disrupting speech. More than a third, or 37%, of Davidson students think it’s acceptable to shout down a speaker, 19% would block others from attending an event, and 15% condone violence to stop a campus speech. These numbers suggest that, despite Davidson’s reputation for civility, many students believe intimidation is an acceptable tool for undermining the very notion of open discourse. While trust in the administration has improved and fewer students now doubt the College will defend them from censorship, significant skepticism remains. 34% of students believe peers could be reported for expressing controversial ideas, and a similar number, 37%, believe the same for professors. Davidson has made important strides, but the culture of open expression between students and professors is still fragile. The FIRE survey underscores the importance of freedom of expression in more than policies on paper. It requires a campus climate where students feel safe to speak their minds. DFTD calls on the College to take the following concrete steps to strengthen free speech and viewpoint diversity at Davidson; Adopt a policy of Institutional Neutrality whereby the College and Departments do not take ideological or political positions Expand ideological diversity among faculty, staff, and trustees Make the College’s Commitment to Freedom of Expression Statement a key part of New Student Orientation Conduct a thorough review of all policies and procedures related to speech With these actions, Davidson College has the opportunity to lead by example, showing how a liberal arts education can prepare students to engage thoughtfully and confidently in the world beyond campus.
You get an A! And you get an A! On campuses this fall, some students might feel like they’ve wandered into their own Oprah episode, except the prize is a transcript filled with top marks.
DFTD Newsletter 8/19/2025 Davidsonians for Freedom of Thought and Discourse is honored to announce a multi-year, major gift from Dr. William Winkenwerder. This generous commitment will ensure that the Davidson community can engage directly with leading voices who shape global affairs and national security policy. A 1976 graduate of Davidson College and former member of the Davidson College Board of Trustees (2015-2022), Dr. Winkenwerder is a nationally recognized physician and health care executive who served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs under President George W. Bush and as a senior leader at the Department of Health and Human Services under President Ronald Regan. His long-standing dedication to public service and his commitment to robust, open discussion on critical issues of foreign policy have been a hallmark of his career. Dr. Winkenwerder’s support will bolster DFTD’s programs by creating the Winkenwerder Policy Series on the Middle East , allowing students to welcome distinguished guests exploring some of today’s most challenging global issues. In collaboration with students and faculty, this series of speakers will offer the Davidson campus and community the chance to hear firsthand perspectives from experts in US Defense Policy, Middle East relations, and international policy at large. This transformative gift from Dr. Winkenwerder will enable vital conversations that foster open discourse and inspire Davidson students and the campus community to explore global issues with curiosity and purpose.