Policy Taboos: You Can’t Say That! American Higher Education and the War on Free Speech
Event description
Policy Taboos: You Can’t Say That! American Higher Education and the War on Free Speech
Join us for the latest of the Policy Taboo series as Jonathan Zimmerman unpacks how censorship in America's classrooms limits freedoms for all.
The October 7 Hamas attack on Israel triggered a new set of challenges and contradictions around free speech on American campuses. On the political right, the same people that formerly condemned universities as hostile to free speech demanded new restrictions on allegedly hateful statements. Meanwhile, left-wing voices who had demanded checks on hate speech became zealous advocates for protecting those same statements. This talk examines how we arrived at this frenzied moment, placing special emphasis on the rise of psychological metaphors like triggers and safe spaces. It will also suggest a new way forward, which places knowledge and understanding--not trauma and healing--at the heart of our educational project.
Jonathan Zimmerman is Professor of History of Education and the Berkowitz Professor in Education at the University of Pennsylvania. A former Peace Corps volunteer and high school teacher, he is the author of Free Speech and Why You Should Give a Damn and eight other books. Zimmerman is a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer and a contributor to numerous other newspapers and magazines. He taught for 20 years at New York University, where he received its Distinguished Teaching Award in 2008.
This event promises to be an engaging exploration of the complex dynamics surrounding political and social movements and their impacts on areas in education.
Date: Wed 15 May 2024
Time: 17.30 AWST
Location: Forrest Research Foundation, Forrest Hall 1, 21 Hackett Drive, Crawley WA 6009
Parking: Along Hackett Drive and within grounds of UWA, free after 5pm
Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the issues shaping our world. Reserve your spot today!
Guests will be invited to stay for drinks and networking on conclusion of the formalities.
This event is a collaboration between UWA Public Policy Institute and Forrest Research Foundation