I. Overview
The impact of a polarizing speaker’s campus visit spotlighted the need to reexamine speech and expression guidelines and test our resolve to model civil discourse at a time when the BLM movement and general election loom large. The healing process will include engaging the entire community through a series of talks from nationally recognized speakers. The series will employ a variety of formats and will launch in Fall 2016 and continue through the 2016-2017 academic year. We encourage the university community to submit proposals to apply for funding to contribute to this series.
II. Goals
Goals in your proposal should:
- Engage in a dialog on two important topics: racism and free speech
- Develop the capacity to absorb opposing points of view
- Examine key issues from a variety of perspectives
- Preserve/demonstrate Vincentian values
- Build affinity for DePaul University
- Build reputation for promoting free expression in an inclusive environment
- Leverage existing events and opportunistic links including President’s Book Club, Lunch with Vincent; September 25th is ‘Freedom of Speech Day’ and Free Speech Week in October to have conversations about difficult conversations
III. Event Parameters
- The proposal process will be open to students, faculty, and staff
- Students will attend free of charge
- Co-sponsoring with DePaul departments, organizations will be considered to generate collaboration, cross campus engagement
- Factoring in the time/costs to provide livestreaming will be considered to help ensure all those who want to hear the talks in real time will have an opportunity to do so
- Whenever possible, regardless of format, audience talk backs will be incorporated in each event