Freedom of Expression, Intellectual Freedom, and Constructive Dialogue

Continued updates regarding UW's efforts to support a campus culture of free expression and respectful discourse will be posted here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Nadine Strossen
Nadine Strossen will give a talk entitled “Does Free Speech Help or Hurt Civil Rights Movements?” on Tues, Feb. 25 at 5:30pm in the Agriculture Auditorium, with a reception prior to the talk from 4:00-5:15pm in the same location. Strossen is John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law, Emerita, New York Law School, former president of the ACLU, and the author of HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship (2018) and Free Speech: What Everyone Needs to Know® (2023). Strossen’s visit is brought to us by the UW chapter of Heterodox Academy, with additional support from the Office of the President, and is free and open to the public. This event will also be livestreamed (please check back here, or the University Events Calendar, for the link). Strossen's books will be available for sale at the University Store and at the reception. 
Martín Carcasson

Martín Carcasson will present his work on dialogue and deliberation to tackle wicked problems on Mon, March 10 and Tue, March 11, 2025. His presentation, "Tackling Wicked Problems through Deliberative Engagement: How to Engage Diverse Perspectives and Elevate our Conversations in Hyper-Partisan Times", will take place in the Student Union West Ballroom on March 10 at 5:30pm. Carcasson is Professor of Communication Studies at Colorado State University and the founding director of the CSU Center for Public Deliberation. His research focuses on helping local communities address “wicked problems” more productively through improved public communication, community problem solving, and collaborative decision-making. 

 

The day after his presentation, on March 11, Carcasson will offer three participatory workshops for faculty, staff, and students to practice collaborative dialogue techniques.  These all take place in the Student Union West Ballroom.

Carcasson’s visit is brought to us by the student organization BridgeUWYO, the Service, Leadership, and Community Engagement (SLCE) Office, the Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program, and the Office of the President.  


Carcasson workshops list

 

IMPLEMENTATION

 

 

Promotional sticker that says "the world needs more constructive dialogue"Promotional bookmark shaped like a bootPromotional sticker that says "the world needs more constructive dialogue"Promotional sticker with Cowboy Joe reading a large book and the words "Learn and Let Learn"

Communicating the Principles:

  • A website about the principles is established in fall 2023. 

  • A Library Guide (“LibGuide”) has been established to offer information resources on intellectual freedom, academic freedom, free expression, and constructive dialogue. This Lib Guide was featured as a part of Coe Library's "Democracy" display in Sept., 2024.

  • Early in 2024, a short video was created to convey the spirit of the Wyoming Principles. Later in the year, another video was produced for new student orientation.

  • A series of stickers and bookmarks, featured on this page, were created and are now available across campus.

  • President Seidel is in the process of producing a video message that all new UW employees will see when they complete their online onboarding.

  • Applicants to UW can now select “Free Speech & Dialogue” from the menu of extra-curricular activities they are asked to identify and receive information about. 

  • A Community of Principle, made up of 20 full-time faculty and staff, met regularly throughout the spring semester at the Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning to discuss the principles and consider the opportunities and challenges for aligning their work with these principles.

  • New students were introduced to the UW Principles at Saddle Up orientation with a video featuring President Ed Seidel and current students.

  • The Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program created several modules for K-12 audiences connected to the UW Principles. (Upon logging into WyoLearn, click on the tile that says "Wallop K-12 Curriculum Project - Social Studies") 

 

  • The Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program and the School of Politics, Public Affairs & International Studies presented an educational program in recognition of Constitution Day, a discussion with Mary Beth Tinker, who was part of a famous Supreme Court case about students' free expression rights.

  • Vice President & General Counsel Tara Evans and Adjunct Professor Dr. Martha McCaughey gave a workshop on the First Amendment in Sept., 2024.

  • Assistant Lecturer Catherine Johnson and Adjunct Professor Dr. Martha McCaughey gave a workshop on Free Expression Boundaries in the Classroom in Sept., 2024.


Practicing the Principles: 

  • In fall 2024, Prof. Matt Burgess began running a rapid-response constructive dialogue group which initiated it's first dialogue session in Sept. 2024 focused on the UW Principles. Further rapid-response dialogues on various topics will continue to take place throughout the year. Burgess has also started a podcast entitled "Grounded, Not Divided" where he will interview people in business, policy, non-profits, and other sectors of society who are taking on some of society's hardest problems such as poverty, disease, innovation, environmental protection, and education. "Grounded, Not Divided" can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

  • UW was selected by Heterodox Academy, an international, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, to become a Heterodox Academy Campus Community. Campus Communities that are part of this network strive to improve research and higher education by championing open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement.  

  • A student chapter of BridgeUSA was formed in fall 2024. “BridgeUWYO” is now a Student Organization and has a series of meetings and discussions scheduled. Find BridgeUWYO activities/events and dates on their website or follow the them on Instagram @bridgeUWYO.

  • President Seidel established a committee at UW to develop a potential collaboration with the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, including the Mineta-Simpson Institute, a dedicated retreat space and home for programming specifically designed to foster empathy, courage, and cooperation in the next generation of leaders. 


Operationalizing the Principles: 

ENDORSEMENTS

ASUW – Oct. 31st, 2023: ASUW Passes Senate Resolution #2912: Freedom of ExpressionAuthored By: Senator Saint

FACULTY SENATE – Nov. 27th, 2023: Faculty Senate voted unanimously to pass Resolution 449, officially endorsing the statement of principles.

CABINET ENDORSEMENT – Nov. 30th, 2023: In a formal letter, the President's Cabinet expressed their endorsement of the principles.

UW DEANS ENDORSEMENT – Dec. 5th, 2023: The University of Wyoming Deans have expressed their endorsement of the principles on freedom of expression, intellectual freedom and constructive dialogue.

STAFF SENATE – Dec. 6th, 2023: Staff Senate approved Senate Resolution 251, officially endorsing the statement of principles.

UW DIRECTORS ENDORSEMENT – Dec. 22nd, 2023: Twelve University of Wyoming Directors have provided written endorsement of the principles on freedom of expression, intellectual freedom and constructive dialogue.