2024 Constitution Day Debate
Experts Debate Free Speech Limits in Higher Education
Two academic freedom experts made their cases for the role and scope of free speech in higher education during Colgate’s 2024 Constitution Day Debate: “‘Snowflakes,’ Truth, and the Future of Academic Freedom” Sept. 12.
The annual debate celebrating Constitution Day is sponsored by the Forum on Constitutional Government and the Center for Freedom and Western Civilization. Since 2005, Colgate has hosted a Constitution Day debate on campus focused on a variety of constitutional issues.
Keith Whittington of Yale Law School, author of Speak Freely: Why Universities Must Defend Free Speech, believes the central mission of a university should focus on the discovery and dissemination of knowledge by academic scholars. Ulrich Baer of New York University, author of What Snowflakes Get Right: Free Speech, Truth, and Equality on Campus sees a university’s mission as grounded in not only speech, but also in equality. All debate guests were provided with a pocket Constitution and a copy of Colgate’s Student Rights and Responsibilities. Read more about the debate and speakers or view the debate recording.
How to Have Challenging Conversations on Campus
Professor of Political Science Stan Brubaker, who teaches constitutional law, American politics, and political theory in addition to moderating Colgate’s annual Constitution Day debate, shares some advice about how to discuss challenging topics as part of “The Academic's Guide to Survival” in the Autumn 2023 issue of the Colgate Magazine.
Center Co-Directors Featured on Colgate’s 13 Podcast
In this episode of 13, join the co-directors of the Center for Freedom and Western Civilization — Professor of Political Science Robert Kraynak and Associate Professor of Art and Art History Carolyn Guile — as they discuss the genesis of the group, its mission, and past speakers that they have brought to campus.
Summer Research Fellowships
Our James Madison and Prague Summer Research Fellowships allow students to pursue faculty-mentored summer research projects focused on themes related to the Western heritage of freedom and civilization.
Awards & Scholarships
Michael Hanratty ’24 is the 2024 recipient of the Brian Horey ’82 Civic Freedom Award, seen here with his faculty sponsor, Stanley Brubaker, professor of political science.