Hamline University will team up with the Georgetown University Free Speech Project to host “Free Speech at The Crossroads: A Minnesota Dialogue” on the Hamline campus next week. The event will examine whether there is a Free Speech crisis underway in America, and how such a conflict could affect other key democratic values.
Across two days, Sept. 19-20, Hamline will host seven events examining rising challenges facing the First Amendment, including political violence, distrust of media and other institutions, the spread of misinformation and disinformation, hate speech and censorship. The first day of the three-day event will take place at the Knight Foundation headquarters in St. Paul.
“Hamline is honored to partner with Georgetown University to further a national dialogue of this scope and importance,” President Fayneese Miller said. “This event, I hope, will draw attention and a greater understanding to the sources of turmoil and divisiveness in our country. Through discussing these issues, we stand to generate new, bold ideas and renew our conviction to democracy and its core values.”
On Tuesday, Sept. 19, the event at Hamline will begin with opening remarks from President Miller. Five panel forums will be held on Sept. 19. Panelists are listed below.
“Parental Rights” and Book Banning: 9:30-10:45 a.m.
David Hahn, chair of the Minnesota Republican Party
Lori Keekley, assistant director for the National Scholastic Press Association
Khalique Rogers, co-director of the Center for School Change
Jeff Snyder, associate professor of educational studies at Carleton College
Protecting the Right to Protest: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Nekima Levy Armstrong, civil rights lawyer and former president of the Minneapolis NAACP
Deepinder Mayell, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota
Trahern Pollard, founder and CEO of We Push For Peace
Jane Turner, former FBI special agent
Stand-Up Comedy and Free Expression: 1:30-2:45 p.m.
Greg Coleman, stand-up comedian
Jackie Kashian, stand-up comedian
Tiffany Norton, stand-up comedian
Immigrants, Refugees, Religious and Ethnic Minorities and the First Amendment: 3-4:15 p.m.
Veena Iyer, executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
Amna Khalid, associate professor of history at Carleton College
Jane Prince, St. Paul City Councilmember (Ward 7)
Chao Xiong, managing editor of the Sahan Journal
Should Social Media be Regulated by Government?: 4:30-5:30 p.m. A debate among emerging leaders from the ThreeSixtyJournalism program at the University of St. Thomas College of Arts and Sciences.
Faaya Adem, University of Minnesota
France Aravena, University of St. Thomas
Allison Brodin, Gustavus Adolphus College
Aaliyah Demry, St. Cloud State University
Wednesday, Sept. 20 will begin with opening remarks from Hamline’s Dr. Rebecca Neal, director of the Center for Excellence in Urban Teaching. Two panels will be held that day:
Viewpoint Diversity: Listening to Another Side: 9:15-10:30 a.m.
Deborah Appleman, the Hollis L. Caswell Professor of educational studies at Carleton College
Kathryn Kay Coquemont, vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Macalester College
Robert Groven, assistant dean of faculty development and associate professor of Communication Studies at Augsburg University
Hate Speech in Politics and Education: 10:45 a.m. to noon
Christopher Chapp, professor of political science at St. Olaf College
Ruth DeFoster, professor at the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota
Duchess Harris, professor of American Studies at Macalester College
John Hinderaker, president of the Center of the American Experiment
This event is made possible by its co-sponsors: Georgetown University, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Hamline University, the Star Tribune, the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota, and the Wayfinder Foundation.
