You're Invited! Wesleyan University Lecture on Freedom of Expression

Zoom in to our March 25th talk (5PM EST), “Free Speech for Me, But Not for Thee: Campus Censorship from the 'STOP WOKE ACT' to Israel-Palestine"

A week from today, on Monday, March 25th (5PM EST), we will be delivering the annual Hugo L. Black Lecture on Freedom of Expression at Wesleyan University.

The title of the lecture is, “Free Speech for Me, But Not for Thee: Campus Censorship from the 'STOP WOKE ACT' to Israel-Palestine.” Here’s the blurb:

The war in Gaza has reinvigorated debates about free speech on campus. Allegations that universities are hotbeds of antisemitism compete with claims that universities are silencing pro-Palestinian voices. What do the controversies surrounding Israel-Palestine tell us about the state of campus free expression? How should we respond to words that wound? And why does free speech even matter for liberal arts education in the first place? 

And here’s a sneak preview of our main claims:

We will argue that free speech is essential to promoting the dual mission of higher education today: teaching students critical thinking skills and preparing them to be informed, engaged citizens. Threats to free expression are coming from within the academy (via DEI, Inc.) and from outside the academy (via red state *culture wars* legislation). No matter the source, all of the threats are animated by a discourse of harm. We will explain why we believe this increasingly influential discourse has no place on a college campus.

Please click HERE for the Zoom registration link. We hope you have the chance to tune in.

Warmest regards to all,

Amna & Jeff