"Free Speech on Campus", Feb. 7 (W) at 3:30 in person or on Zoom

[Daniel Lake]

 *The Institute for Ethics in Public Life Presents a hybrid forum on "Free
Speech on Campus" on Wednesday, February 7 at 3:30pm.*

In recent years we have often seen freedom of speech contested on college
campuses. Examples of this include governments regulating the subject
matter that can be taught (e.g. Florida banning courses and programs that
teach "identity politics"),  faculty targeted for expressing controversial
positions publicly or in the classroom, guest speakers shouted down by
students who object to their perspective (e.g. Jordan Peterson, Charles
Murray), and students criticized by other students or punished by
prospective employers over their public political stances (e.g. on the Gaza
war).

On the one hand, academic freedom - the freedom of teachers, students, and
academic institutions to pursue knowledge wherever it may lead without
outside interference - is essential for colleges and universities to
perform their important social functions (education of individuals, career
preparation, individual development, promoting social mobility, generating
new knowledge, etc.). This is why academic freedom is typically enshrined
in university charters and faculty union contracts. On the other hand,
freedom of speech on campus is being challenged from across the political
spectrum on the grounds that the ideas being expressed are socially or
individually harmful.

How can we as members of a university community navigate this challenging
environment? What are appropriate restrictions on freedom of speech on
campus, and which are inappropriate? The purpose of this forum is not to
come up with a perfect answer to either of these questions. Rather, the
goal is to shed some light on these issues by sharing our perspectives on
where we as members of university communities and our society come down on
these issues, and why.

You are welcome to either join the conversation in-person in the Thomas
Moran Seminar Room of the Institute for Ethics in Public Life (Hawkins 233)
or via Zoom (see below).

Topic: Institute forum on free speech on campus
Time: Feb 7, 2024 03:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/95405207871
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/95405207871&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1707498144410509&usg=AOvVaw36S9-HtUX-cF-afYQgcKQi>

Also, looking ahead, plan on joining us for discussions of two important
topics later in February (exact dates to be determined) on Wednesdays at
3:30pm.

*College admissions after the end of affirmative action*. The U.S. Supreme
Court decision striking down race-conscious admissions policies at colleges
(other than the military academies) has removed one way to promote more
equitable and inclusive access to higher education, but the discrimination
and disparities that led to the creation of affirmative action still exist.
What can colleges and universities do to promote equity and inclusion if
they can't have race-conscious admissions policies?

*Voting rights in America.  *It may shock many Americans to learn that in
comparison to other wealthy democracies our political system is seen as
less democratic, and it has gotten even less democratic in recent years.
This is directly related to laws that restrict or remove voting rights such
as voter ID laws and felony disenfranchisement as well as the use of
partisan and racial gerrymanders to disenfranchise segments of the
population.

Also remember that the Institute calendar is publicly available
<https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/1?cid=Y19sa245c3MxcjdscjExdmM0ZzNtMDlyaDUyb0Bncm91cC5jYWxlbmRhci5nb29nbGUuY29t>,
and that even when there is no scheduled topic you are welcome to drop by
the Institute on Wednesdays at 3:30pm to join the conversation.

-- 

*Daniel Lake*

(pronouns: he/him/his)

Assoc. Prof.  and Chair of Political Science

Director, Institute for Ethics in Public Life

Hawkins 149E

101 Broad Street
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

Plattsburgh, NY 12901
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

(o) 518-564-5830 <(518)%5645830>

*plattsburgh.edu <http://plattsburgh.edu/>*
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