Student Spotlight: Yusuf Ahmed '25

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.