In a recent email to students, faculty, staff, alumni, family, and friends of Davidson, President Hicks highlighted how “determining where the specific boundaries and tensions between the freedom to speak and the responsibilities associated with mutual respect is one of the hardest questions that we as a college community confront—in this moment and in all moments.” In order to identify, explore, and understand those boundaries and tensions, the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative is co-hosting a Deliberative Forum on “Free Expression at Davidson: Rights and Responsibilities during an Uncertain Time” (click here to register).
Planned for April 23 from 5 pm to 7 pm in the Lilly Gallery and online, the forum will begin with remarks by several speakers who will address this topic. The speakers include Ike Bailey ’95 (Professor of the Practice in Communication Studies), Melissa Gonzalez (Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Latin American Studies), Dan Layman (Associate Professor of Philosophy), Jim Martin ’57 (Former Davidson Associate Professor of Chemistry and Former Governor of North Carolina), Jacqueline Pfeffer Merrill (Director of the Campus Free Expression Project, Council of Independent Colleges) and Stacey Riemer (Interim Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students). The event will be moderated by Graham Bullock, Associate Professor of Political Science and Faculty Director of the DCI.
The speakers will explore three related themes and questions:
- The Nature and Importance of Freedom of Expression: Why do we value it in a democratic society and in higher education?
- The Nature of Responsible Freedom of Expression: What are reasonable limits on our right to “free speech?”
- Davidson College’s Approach to Freedom of Expression and the Student Code of Responsibility: How does and how should the College respond to concerns about the expression of particular viewpoints on campus?
They will be followed by an opportunity for audience members to explore these topics with one another in roundtable and breakout room discussions, guided by the DCI’s trained facilitators and a deliberation guide developed for this event.
Food will be provided, and everyone is welcome to join. We only ask that participants stay for the full two hours and both listen to the speakers as well as participate in the audience conversations. Seats are limited so sign up today to reserve your spot and receive a copy of the deliberation guide in advance of the forum.
Freedom-of-Expression-Forum-PosterCheck out the Free Expression at Davidson Deliberation Guide that we have developed for this forum below:
DCI-Free-Expression-Deliberation-Guide