Recent campus protests across the country have highlighted the balance universities must strike in supporting free speech, addressing the needs of a diverse student population, and providing educational experiences that promote critical thinking and exposure to different perspectives. This raises questions about the role of the university and how much we should prioritize inclusion or how much to we allow for unrestricted speech. There are no easy answers, and the question remains on what can be done. Following the National Issues Forums model, this is our chance to discuss together what we should do to build the university community we want.

What are Community Howls? The Howls are for YOU to voice your own opinions, experiences, and interests related to the topic while also being open to listen to other perspectives from your peers—no advanced research or expertise required!  It’s a chance for interested faculty, students, and staff members to have a deliberative discussion (small group structured conversation with a facilitator) about issues that impact our community.  It is not a debate—we aren’t looking for winning sides or partisan talking points. We are looking to create experiences of dialogue and bringing perspectives together in one place.

In this deliberation, we’ll discuss actions related to how we build the educational and inclusive community we want at our university. We will consider questions such as:

• What does it mean for a university to ensure the safety and well-being of students?
• What is the role of the university in stimulating intellectual curiosity and supporting academic freedom?
• How should a university understand itself as a public forum for free speech and expression?

Students from COM 468: Facilitating Difficult Discussions will be facilitating small group discussions for this event—so bring your thoughts and willingness to gain new understanding of this complex issue!

When: Monday, March 11 from 6:00-7:30 pm

Where: JSCU Ballroom C

Contact for More Information:  Amy Pason (apason@unr.edu), Department of Communication Studies

ASUN Center for Student Engagement is sponsoring this event to bring more options for community engagement to students.