President Domenico Grasso announced that the university will invest $50 million to move forward in establishing a permanent center dedicated to diversity of thought and civil discourse.

The announcement was delivered during opening remarks at the Sept. 18 Board of Regents meeting, where he also addressed the intensifying tone of public discourse — including expressions of hostility and division — following last week’s fatal shooting on a university campus.

“One of my priorities as president is for the nation to Look to Michigan as a model in higher education for civil and robust discourse on critical issues,” Grasso said.

An institute for civil discourse was first announced last December and the university intends to open the institute by next spring. Early plans are for the institute to serve as a resource for the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses.

In discussing the institute, Grasso referred to the oath he took as an Army officer to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and his enduring commitment to the First Amendment.

“I may disagree with you,” he said, “but I will forever defend your right to speak out.”

The university community, Grasso said, believes in the value of engaging with diverse perspectives and in the power of debate and dialogue. “If we abandon free speech on our campuses, we risk abandoning it for our nation,” he said.

The announcement is the latest in a series of steps taken to support diversity of thought and free expression at the university. Last year, the regents approved the “Principles on Diversity of Thought and Freedom of Expression” to reinforce the university’s responsibility to stimulate and support diverse ideas and model constructive engagement with different viewpoints.

And earlier this year, U-M launched The Look to Michigan vision, which emphasized democracy, civic and global engagement as one of five impact areas.

“Silencing voices is anathema to a great university like ours,” Grasso said. “Our common ground, in pursuit of the common good, must be reasoned discourse and civility. I believe we can — and must — rise to this moment, together, in ways only Michigan can.”