Study

Free speech and academic freedom protect the right of faculty and students to research, publish, teach, and learn challenging and sometimes controversial topics; doing so is essential to the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. At the same time, scholarship and teaching are embedded in university communities that should embody a culture of belonging, one that itself is key to the success of research, teaching, and engagement. Increasingly, campus communities must think creatively about how to ensure that their institutional values and commitments remain clear, and that teachers and learners are able to freely engage in a pluralistic environment that values rigorous inquiry, mutual respect, and belonging. 

It would be a significant understatement to say that some faculty, students, and commentators feel that universities are not striking the right balance(s). From trigger warnings and safe spaces to protests and pickets, from claims of cancellation and coddling to claims of racism and harassment, many have concluded that universities are in crisis.

The purpose of this reading group is, it should go without saying, not to solve all of those issues, nor to problem-solve issues close to home. Rather, the hope is that deep reading and discussion can help illuminate what lies beneath them, along with some potential ways forward.

This “fast-track” class will meet in eight 85-minute sessions starting on September 3 and ending on October 29 (skipping October 15, which is during fall break). 1 credit, CR/NC grading basis.

Special Notes:

Fast track

Fall 2024

Course Number	Course Credits	Evaluation Method	Instructor
611.63	1	Reflective Writing Class participation	Joseph Blocher
Canvas site: https://canvas.duke.edu/courses/45471