Purpose of the Series

“Speak Up, Speak Out: The Current Events Series” is not a lecture series―it’s more like a town hall meeting called to discuss important events and topics in the news. Each forum is an opportunity for all participants to collaborate in thinking through the issues, identify problems, and consider solutions.

Format of the Forums

In order to create a common ground for discussion, each forum begins with a 30-45 minute video to provide relevant and useful information about the selected topic for the audience to analyze.

After the video, a panel of faculty, staff and students initiates discussion by providing additional information and insights, and soliciting responses from the audience. As facilitators, panelists model strong critical thinking skills, effective questioning, and civility in disagreement in order to engage the audience in open discussion and inclusive dialogue.

That doesn’t mean that panelists remain neutral on the topic under discussion, or that they agree with one another. Explaining how they arrived at their position or why it is a justifiable position helps others see how to put together a reasonable and defensible position of their own. It is through learning skills such as these that each of us becomes a more engaged and effective citizen, capable of developing thoughtful positions on the issues, willing to listen to reasonable alternatives posed by others, and open to the life-long learning that enriches our own lives and the democratic society for which we are responsible.

Sponsors

"Speak Up, Speak Out: The Current Events Series" is sponsored by the following:

•  The College of Humanities and Social & Behavioral Sciences
•  The College of Communications and Fine Arts
•  The Office of the Dean of Students
•  The Assessment Council
•  The Multicultural Center
•  The Volunteer Center
•  Pi Sigma Alpha
•  The Center for Professional and Personal Ethics.

The Speak Up, Speak Out logo was developed by Hope May.

During election years, students gather to watch and discuss the election returns at the Speak Up, Speak Out: Election Night Forum in the Down Under Food Court. Students compete for prizes in trivia games about the history of American politics and U.S. elections.   Photo by Sarah Sommer.

Panelists adiscuss the tension between athletics and academics at the October 18, 2005 forum on "College Sports."  Phot0 by Sarah Sommer.

Panelists at a Fall 2004 forum discuss the situation in Iraq and American's response to 9-11.  Phot0 by Sarah Sommer.