Hamilton College recently hit a low point when activists calling themselves “the Movement” made national headlines for their laughable list of “demands” that sent college administrators scrambling to appease them in one way or another.

Fortunately, Hamilton followed up the low point with a high point the very next week. On December 11, Hamilton announced the selection of a new college president. David Wippman, a professor of international law and the Dean of the University of Minnesota Law School, will assume the office in July 2016.

The school will say farewell to its current president, Joan Hinde Stewart, who has maintained a largely invisible presence throughout her nearly 13-year tenure. In recent years she has broken her silence via email to sympathize with those students who publicly embarrassed the college by blocking traffic on College Hill Road, as in December 2014, or by releasing lists of illiberal and entitled demands.

Wippman’s tenure at the University of Minnesota Law School provides hints that he can bring a refreshing change to the political atmosphere of Hamilton. When activists disrupted a talk at the university in November 2015, Wippman spoke out against their tactics. “It is unacceptable,” said Wippman, as quoted in the Washington Post, “that they should seek to deny other students and community members their own opportunity to hear an invited guest speak. Values of free speech and academic freedom are central to the University’s mission; we disregard them at our peril.”

Students at Hamilton have waited in vain for President Stewart or other administrators to give similar statements when activists have gotten out of hand. The appointment of Wippman demonstrates that the Board of Trustees has its priorities in order, even if our administrators do not. Wippman’s track record on academic freedom, in addition to his highly impressive credentials, make him the best man for the job.

We welcome Wippman to Hamilton College and wish him the best of luck.