Convocation

The 2007-2008 Gloria S. Duclos Convocation will address Academic Freedom, a topic recommended by resolution of the Faculty Senate as an essential component of thriving institutions of higher education. 

Convocation goals are:

• To explore the history of academic freedom in U.S. higher education and elsewhere.
  
• To study contemporary controversies nationally and internationally regarding definitions and principles of academic freedom.
  
• To gain a better understanding about how principles of academic freedom are essential at USM.
  
• To gain a better understanding of how principles of academic freedom should be applied at USM.
  
• To study the relationship between academic freedom and first amendment freedom of speech protections.
  
• To hear and learn from exemplar cases in which principles of academic freedom was or is being tested.
  
• To discuss the responsibility of faculty, staff, and students at USM to resist the suppression of or threats to academic freedom.
  
• To present events that will engage the wider community as well as USM faculty, staff, and students.

Professor of Philosophy George Caffentzis and Associate Professor of History Eileen Eagan are co-chairs of the Steering Committee which includes students (Marie Follayttar, Daniel Chard, Melissa St. Germain), staff (Loraine Lowell, Carolyn Eyler, Reza Jalali), and faculty members (Michelle Jacobus, Abraham Peck, Bruce Clary, Joseph Grange, Susan Feiner, Rebecca Lockridge, Dennis Biggie, Dusan Bjelic, Bonnie Farmer, Eve Raimon, and Melvyn Zarr).

Please click here for the 2007-2008 Call for Proposals (in MS Word).

Please click here for a copy of the Convocation description from which the text on this page is taken (also in MS Word).

Please report any problems with this page to Donna Bird.