By Pam Powers, University Communications, UW-Stout
Different opinions should be encouraged but universities can’t allow speech that produces immediate threats of violence or otherwise threatens public safety, according to speakers Tuesday during a panel discussion at UW-Stout.
The discussion of “How Should Universities Respond to Hate Speech?” was part of Free Speech Week events at the university. The week’s final program will be a panel discussion today on “Free Speech, Social Media and Universities,” from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Ballroom A of the Memorial Student Center. It is free and open to the public.
“Each student deserves an opportunity to learn within a safe environment,” said Dominique Vargas, UW-Stout associate dean of equity, diversity and inclusion during Tuesday’s discussion. “When safety is an issue, the university needs to get involved.”
UW-Stout has a Bias Response Team to investigate reported bias or hate incidents.There were 22 individual incidents of bias reported last year at UW-Stout, Vargas said, noting that she believes that at UW-Stout, like the rest of the nation, not all incidents are reported.
However, reporting helps the university target where issues of bias are occurring and where to place more educational emphasis, she noted.
“Most often bias incidents are dealt with in an educational manner,” Vargas said. “Most of the time there is a need for understanding rather than a firm reprimand. If a crime is involved, there is the potential for firmer repercussions.”
Jennifer Lambe, associate professor of communication at the University of Delaware, said universities and colleges must continue to have conversations about the importance of freedom of expression and to think critically about hate speech.
“You have to look at the intent of the speaker,” she said. “Make resources available and ongoing efforts. Education has to be subtle, though. It can’t be heavy-handed.”
UW-Stout interim Chancellor Patrick Guilfoile, who moderated the discussion, said his understanding is that there are only absolute actions if there is an immediate threat of violence.
“Generally, as an educational institution, our goal is to educate students and help students understand,” he said.
Student leaders can help establish norms for the campus and help educate other students about what is appropriate language on campus, he said.
Vargas added that during first-year orientation, students are given information on their First Amendment rights and freedom of expression.
Panelists for today’s final program will include Joe Cohn, legislative and policy director of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education; Franciska Coleman, who was a visiting assistant professor in 2018-19 at the University of Kansas School of Law; and Eric Kasper, associate professor of political science and the director of the Center for Constitutional Studies at UW-Eau Claire. The panel will be moderated by Sandra Scott, UW-Stout dean of students.
Other discussions during Free Speech Week have focused on academic freedom, corporate speech rights and free speech and civil rights. The programming is sponsored by UW-Stout’s Center for the Study of Institutions and Innovation.
Note: the home page photo, showing Jennifer Lambe (left) and Dominique Vargas during Tuesday’s panel discussion, was taken by Don Steffen, UW-Stout.