FALR Symposium: The Quintessential Marketplace of Ideas? Current Free Speech Issues on University Campuses 

October 29, 2024

The Center for Media Law and Policy and the First Amendment Law Review (FALR) are proud to present a timely and crucial symposium exploring free speech issues on university campuses. 

Event Details

  • Date: Friday, November 15, 2024 
  • Time: 8:45 AM – 4:00 PM 
  • Location: Carolina Club located at George Watts Hill Alumni Center 
  • CLE Credit: 4.5 General Hours 

“The symposium will feature various First Amendment experts, both academics and practitioners, with diverse perspectives on the issues we’ll be discussing,” says Jack Denton, 3L and symposium editor of the First Amendment Law Review, Vol. 23. “Attendees can expect to hear lively and meaningful discussions about the issues surrounding speech on the university campus. In my opinion, the answer is more speech, so I’m excited to host our panelists and hear what their thoughts are on the path forward.” 

The symposium comes at a critical time, as university campuses have become focal points for intense debates about free speech, protest rights, and the role of higher education institutions in fostering open dialogue. Key topics will include: 

  • The spread of student protests over the war in Gaza and appropriate administrative responses 
  • The concept of “institutional neutrality” as embraced by UNC and other universities 
  • Concerns about “cancel culture” and its impact on unpopular viewpoints 
  • Federal and state legislative efforts targeting universities 

Schedule of Events

Keynote Address 

  • Geoff Stone, Edward H. Levi Distinguished Service Professor of Law, The University of Chicago Law School 

Panel 1: Student Speech & Protests 

  • Moderated by Michael Gerhardt, Burton Craige Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence, UNC School of Law 
  •  Vikram Amar, Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Davis School of Law 
  • Steven Collis, Clinical Professor, The University of Texas at Austin School of Law 
  • Timothy Zick, Robert & Elizabeth Scott Research Professor and John Marshall Professor of Government and Citizenship, William & Mary Law School 

Panel 2: Faculty Speech & Academic Freedom 

  • Moderated by William P. Marshall, William Rand Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law, UNC School of Law  
  • Amy Gajda, Jeffrey D. Forchelli Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School   
  • Tyson Langhofer, Senior Counsel and Director of Center for Academic Freedom, Alliance Defending Freedom  
  • David Rabban, Dahr Jamail, Randall Hage Jamail, and Robert Lee Jamail Regents Chair in Law, The University of Texas at Austin School of Law 

Panel 3: Institutional Speech & Administrative Challenges 

  • Moderated by Mary-Rose Papandrea, Samuel Ashe Distinguished Professor of Constitutional Law, UNC School of Law  
  • Peter Hans, President, The University of North Carolina System  
  • Geoff Stone, Edward H. Levi Distinguished Service Professor of Law, The University of Chicago Law School  
  • Keith Whittington, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Politics, Princeton University 

This symposium offers a unique opportunity to engage with some of the most pressing First Amendment issues facing university campuses today. By bringing together diverse perspectives from academia, law, and university administration, the event aims to foster meaningful dialogue and explore potential solutions to these complex challenges. 

Don’t miss this chance to be part of this important conversation. Mark your calendars for November 15, 2024, and join us at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center for a day of insightful discussions and debates on the state of free speech in higher education. 

For more information or to register for the symposium, please visit the FALR website or contact the Center for Media Law and Policy at UNC School of Law! 

This event is free and open to the public.