The college campus is the natural place for open, lively debate on the important issues of the day. Robust public discourse is elemental to what higher education is all about. But what is the role of college presidents in that debate? Is it limited to merely ensuring an environment in which diverse points of view are welcomed and expressed? In this article, the author discusses the role of college presidents on critical public issues. She believes that part of the college president's role is taking a stand and speaking out. She thinks that every campus leader, by virtue of his or her position, has the capacity to influence graduates to take away the values they learned, through words and deeds, and lead their lives as productive citizens.