James May-June 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 51
PK What is UGA’s policy on campus free speech and what
are the guardrails and guidelines? You especially had to
deal with that in the spring of 2024 and there were arrests of demonstrators who violated campus rules.
JM We have a very firm commitment to the First Amendment in terms of guaranteeing free speech and freedom of
expression. But at the same time the safety and security
of our campus community is also our priority. We have
established the time, place and manner on campus where
students can express themselves.
These are established guidelines to minimize disruption to the greater campus community. There were a few
efforts last spring to challenge those guidelines, but we
didn’t allow it. The rights of others on campus must be
respected. So, I think we’ve found a good balance on this
campus.
I’m also very proud of our student judiciary that is burdened with having to hear and decide disciplinary cases.
They’ve done a very good job of upholding our rules.
PK Any 昀椀nal words, especially regarding your vision for
the future?
JM A main focus now is on healthcare and the new UGA
School of Medicine. We are very excited about the launch
of a $100 million medical education and research building
that will be under construction soon. We appreciate the
$50 million in funding support from the state, combined
with $50 million of private support that will enable us to
complete that building by late 2026.
Furthermore, we just received candidate status from
the accrediting body for medical schools. That was an important step in this very long and complicated process of
accreditation. The accreditors will be visiting our campus
in the coming months, and we hope and expect we’ll be
on a very fast pace to enroll our first class as early as the
fall of 2026. That’s an ambitious goal, but it’s a goal on
which we are focused, and we hope everything will fall
into place as planned.
The school of medicine is going to have a tremendous, positive impact on the whole state. It’s also going to
impact the University of Georgia by opening new opportunities for partnership and collaboration that we might not
have even anticipated. The provost and I recently formed
a task force on health and medicine comprised of representatives from virtually every area of the campus to meet
and contemplate how the school of medicine is going to
create new opportunities for joint degree programs, for
research programs, and for public service and outreach
initiatives throughout the state.
I’m excited, and it’s something we can all be proud of
at this institution. I especially appreciate the strong support
we’ve received from the governor, the General Assembly,
the chancellor and the University System of Georgia Board
of Regents to make the school of medicine happen.
M AY/J UNE 2025
51
