The discussion will feature an emphasis on the distinct mission and legal rights of public universities
The Hubbard School, along with several other schools and departments across the university, is co-sponsoring a community forum on issues of free speech and academic freedom at public universities.
This conversation will provide an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to share their perspectives on recent and emerging threats to the core rights of academic freedom and free speech. Our discussion will feature a particular emphasis on the distinct mission and legal rights of public universities.
All members of the community who are concerned about the future of academic freedom and free speech are welcome to attend.
We encourage, but do not require, RSVPs so we can get an estimate of the number of attendees.
We also encourage the anonymous submission of advanced questions or topics to help the panel structure discussion. A full 45 minutes will be reserved for open dialogue and conversation between the attendees and the panelists.
- When: Thursday, April 17, 2025
- Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
- In-person: Cowles Auditorium — Humphrey School of Public Affairs, 301 19th Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55455 (UMN-Twin Cities West Bank campus)
- Virtual: This event will also be accessible via Zoom. (No registration required for Zoom participation.)
- Suggest questions: Submit questions or suggest topics via the registration link.
- RSVP: Register here to attend in person or join via Zoom, with no registration required.
Use the registration link to RSVP for in-person attendance and/or to suggest questions and topics.
Panelists
Karen Ho
Professor of Anthropology, and Interim Chair of the Department of African and African American Studies
Jane Kirtley
Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law; Director, Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law
Eric Schwartz
Professor of Public Affairs and Chair, Global Policy Area, Humphrey School
Ajay Skaria
Professor of History and Global Studies
George Weiblen
Science Director, Bell Museum and Professor, Plant & Microbial Biology
Rachel Widome
Professor, Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health
Eric Van Wyk
Professor, Computer Science and Engineering and Chair, Faculty Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure
Michael Gallope (moderator)
Professor of Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature, Vice-Chair College of Liberal Arts Assembly
Sponsors
Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Department of Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature, UMN-Twin Cities chapter of AAUP, Department of History, Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies, Department of Writing Studies, Department of American Studies, the Institute for Global Studies, Institute of Linguistics, Department of Classical and Near Eastern Religions & Cultures, Department of Art, Department of Sociology, Department of Philosophy, Department of Communication Studies, Department of German, Nordic, Scandinavian, and Dutch, Department of French and Italian, Department of Geography, Environment and Society, Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Department of Anthropology, Department of Theater and Dance, School of Music, The CLA Language Center, Department of Speech Language Hearing Sciences, Department of Art History, Department of English, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Department of Political Science, Department of African and African American Studies, Minnesota State Inter Faculty Organization, School of Statistics.