APPLETON – Free Speech for Campus, The Wisconsin Association of Scholars, and the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue will hold a forum entitled “Free Speech for Thee . . . And for Me!: Providing Resources for the Protection and Expansion of Free Speech at UW Institutions” on Saturday, April 13 at 9:00 a.m. at UW-Whitewater’s Hyland Hall.
Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman will be the keynote speaker. He will discuss the current state of free speech on UW campuses and efforts to expand free speech and civil discourse at UW institutions.
The forum will also discuss grants that are currently available for students, campus groups and faculty from the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue to advance and support free speech across all Wisconsin campuses.
Upon becoming president of the Universities of Wisconsin, Rothman prioritized free speech on UW campuses. He has since implemented a ban on the use of DEI statements in the UW System hiring process. In late 2022, he approved a statewide student survey on free speech. The survey of more than 10,000 students was conducted by Dr. Timothy Shiell, a professor at UW-Stout.
President Rothman also created the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue (WICCD). Dr. Shiell, who currently serves as WICCD’s interim director, will discuss the new institute and explain how students and faculty can access grant money for campus free speech initiatives.
State Representative Dave Murphy, Chairperson of the State Assembly’s Colleges and Universities Committee, will host a panel discussion on legislative actions to support free speech at Wisconsin Universities.
Finally, a faculty panel will help attendees conceptualize ways to address challenges to free expression on their campuses.
The event is free to those who register by contacting Tim Higgins at the email or phone above.
A box lunch will be provided at no cost to registered attendees.
