Dialogue Across Difference

The US Constitution mandates that the government -- which includes state universities -- should not discriminate against speakers based on their viewpoints. Should university panels include diverse perspectives, including conservatives who may unsettle students and faculty? What about advocates for extreme nationalist viewpoints whose presence invites large protests that impose substantial costs on universities and colleges? Has President Trump's recent executive order secured campus free speech (as advertised) or potentially weakened it?

Bios:

Jane Kirtley is the Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law at the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota. She has written and spoken extensively on free speech and media ethics. Professor Kirtley has also written friend-of-the-court briefs in the US Supreme Court and published two books.

Isaiah Ogren is the Speaker of the Forum for the Minnesota Student Association. In that role he serves as a neutral arbiter for MSA legislation. He is an academic junior with majors in History and Individualized Study.