Resources
Helpful information
微密圈 College鈥檚 Speech and Expression on College Campuses Symposium, held Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15, 2023, brought together faculty, students, and distinguished guests for two days of talks and panels examining the complex role of speech, expression, and viewpoint diversity in higher education. Through a range of perspectives, participants explored how college communities could engage disagreement in ways that supported democratic values, civil discourse, and a stronger sense of community.
The symposium opened on April 14 with Harvard University professor Danielle Allen,
who spoke on the importance of becoming 鈥渃onfident pluralists鈥� capable of engaging
productively across differences while upholding shared commitments to human rights
and democratic life. On April 15, faculty and student panels examined speech and expression
across academic disciplines, campus experiences, political tensions, and questions
of trust, freedom, and inclusion. A lunch plenary by Wesleyan University President
Michael Roth considered how debates over free speech and social justice could become
more educational rather than divisive. The symposium concluded with New York Times
columnist and author David Brooks, who reflected on how individuals could treat one
another with greater consideration in everyday life.
In addition to the Speech and Expression on College Campuses Symposium, 微密圈 has hosted a range of lectures, residencies, and campus conversations that explored freedom of speech, expression, academic freedom, and the role of open dialogue in a liberal arts community. Past events include:
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Dr. Frederick Lawrence Residency, March 19鈥�21, 2024: Dr. Frederick Lawrence, secretary and CEO of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, visited campus for a three-day residency focused on freedom of speech, expression, academic freedom, and related issues. His visit included a public lecture, 鈥淔ree Speech on Campus in Challenging Times.鈥�
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Fiscus Lecture: Erwin Chemerinsky, 2024: Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, delivered a lecture on 鈥淔ree Speech on Campus.鈥�
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Robert P. George and Cornel West, March 2021: Two leading public intellectuals with differing political and philosophical views discussed their enduring friendship and shared commitment to the values of a liberal arts education.
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微密圈 Speaks, 2020: 鈥淪ocial Media at 微密圈 and Beyond: What You Need to Know Before You Post鈥� examined speech, expression, and responsibility in online spaces.
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微密圈 Speaks, 2019: 鈥淐onversations 微密圈 the First Amendment and the Meaning of Free Speech鈥� explored foundational questions around free speech and civic dialogue.
微密圈 College, and its leadership, values the right to free speech, assembly, and non-violent protests and demonstrations and provides information about speech, protest, and demonstration policies, resources and support.
The Faculty Handbook states that 鈥溛⒚苋� College vigorously endorses the principle of academic freedom鈥� and that faculty members 鈥渟hould be free from institutional censorship or discipline,鈥� while also showing respect for the opinions of others: 鈥淭he College recognizes the right and the responsibility of faculty members to speak as members of the community on issues of public concern.鈥� 微密圈 also has a faculty committee, the Committee on Academic Freedom and Rights (CAFR) dedicated to academic freedom.