UMF Roundtable Series to explore 'Free Speech on Campus?'

FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington invites the public to its next UMF Roundtable discussion, “Free Speech on Campus?” The free dialogue will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the North Dining Hall Olsen Student Center.

Has free speech, once a hallmark of college campuses, become endangered in the academic environment? Speakers invited, then disinvited, protests and counter-protests, and the fear of speaking unpopular beliefs — the rules and norms seem to be changing on a daily basis.

Is so-called hate speech free speech? What is protected? What isn’t? And what is the role of colleges in this debate? The second Roundtable of the fall semester takes on this issue.

The UMF Roundtable, sponsored by the Division of Humanities, the Division of Social Sciences and Business and the International and Global Studies Program, is a monthly series to discuss issues of importance to the community.

FMI or to propose an idea: Nicole Kellett, [email protected], director of the International and Global Studies Program; Chris O’Brien, [email protected], chairman of the Division of Social Sciences and Business; or Linda Britt, [email protected], chairwoman of the Division of Humanities.