freespeechcenter.universityofcalifornia.eduNational Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement | University of California

About Leadership 2023 Annual Report Fellowship Fellowship View Projects By Topic View Fellows By Year Programs Programs VOICE Initiative Institutes Workshops Events Events Recent & Upcoming #SpeechMatters Fellows in the Field Speech Spotlight Resources Resources SpeechMatters Podcast Ask the Experts News Donate Search Search for: EVENTS Campus Protest: Then and Now Register Today for Campus Protest: Then and Now. Feat. a panel of experts discussing how universities should respond in this moment and moving forward. Register Now PROGRAMS 2024-2025 Class of Fellows We are pleased to announce the selection of eleven new Fellows, who will spend the next year tackling complex issues affecting expression and democratic engagement in higher education. Meet the Fellows PROGRAMS VOICE Initiative Applications are Open! UC COMMUNITY: Apply now to join the Center’s community of VOICE Recipients. UC students, staff and faculty can apply now for up to $5,000 in funding. Apply Here Previous Next Stay in the Know! Subscribe for Updates OUR MISSION To explore the intersection of expression, engagement and democratic learning and consider what can be done to restore trust in the value of free speech on college campuses and within society at large. In this charged political environment, the cherished tradition of free expression is more critical than ever. The University of California’s role is not only to protext free speech, but to guarantee it, even when many find its expression objectionable. I know that the Center is commited to upholding the values of the First Amendment. Michael V. Drake University of California President Through the Center I have found a community of folks, in and out of academia, who are willing and able to engage with the complexities of some of the thorniest issues facing higher education today: free speech and inclusion, political polarization, democratic engagement, declining trust in institutions and expertise, and much more. Every interaction I have with the Center, whether through a year-long fellowship or a brief webinar, not only deepens my understanding of these challenges but also motivates me to actively contribute to their resolution Elizabeth Niehaus Associate Professor, Educational Administration, University of Nebraska - Lincoln; 2022-2023 Senior Fellow I highly recommend partnering with the Center. Michelle’s expertise, engaging presentation style, and practical insights enhanced our faculty and staff’s capacity for open expression on campus. Furthermore, through tailored trainings and 1-on-1 conversations, the Center helped us to expand our offerings and strategically create structures that actualize Emory’s commitment to open expression! We couldn’t have done it without this invaluable collaboration! Courtnay Oddman Director of Open Expression Programs, Emory University The arts serve as both a stage and a conduit for the dynamic process of civic engagement. Building a vibrant public culture requires intentionality, and the Center provides an extraordinary range of tools for that. Michelle Deutchman’s brief primer on free speech, for example, is a compass for freely expressing ideas while also uplifting civic engagement. The Center offers resources that help us better bridge the distance between intentions and impact Tiffany López Dean & Professor, Claire Trevor School of the Arts & Co-chair, Steering Committee, UCI Year of Free Speech Previous Next Recent News SpeechMatters Conference Write-up Diverse Education April 19, 2024 Center Executive Director Comments on Importance of Dialogue for Chronicle Article on Civil Discourse Chronicle of Higher Education March 22, 2024 Former Center Fellow Writes What Champions of Neutrality Get Wrong” The Chronicle of Higher Ed March 18, 2024 Explore Our Work Apply for Fellowship Apply for VOICE Award Explore our Research Attend an Event Donate to Center Check out our Resources #SpeechMatters Podcast SpeechMatters is the official podcast of the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement. The podcast features thought leaders tackling the most pressing issues impacting free expression and democracy on campus and beyond. Hosted by the Center’s Executive Director, Michelle Deutchman. Listen to Episodes Interested in the Center? Subscribe to stay up to date on Center news. Sign Up University of CaliforniaQuestions? Contact us at freespeechcenter@uci.edu . Copyright © Regents of the University of California | Terms of...