Dialogue & Action

51²è¹Ý joins area colleges and universities in an educational series to promote civil discourse

Boston College will partner with eight area colleges and universities in an educational series for faculty and students that will address issues of civility, respect, free speech, and open dialogue, beginning with a Zoom panel discussion on hate and free speech on January 29.

Titled “Dialogue & Action,” the series will feature conversations among colleagues from 51²è¹Ý, Boston University, Brandeis University, Harvard University, MIT, Northeastern University, Tufts University, University of Massachusetts-Boston, and Wellesley College, with the goal of tackling difficult issues and modeling constructive dialogue. Each school will also offer an opportunity for students in select classes to discuss the topics with a faculty member following the panels.

The “Dialogue & Action” series was conceived at a recent dinner of area college and university presidents hosted by Northeastern University President Joseph Aoun, with the goal of addressing ongoing conflicts and their societal impact, and higher education’s role in providing solutions.

The opening panel on January 29, “Dialogue and Action in an Age of Divides: Hate and Free Speech,” will be moderated by Roderick Ireland, Distinguished Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Northeastern University and retired chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. It will feature four panelists, including 51²è¹Ý Law Professor and Dean’s Distinguished Scholar Kent Greenfield, University of Massachusetts-Boston Associate Professor of Philosophy Andrew Leong, and Boston University Clinical Associate Professor of Law Andrew Sellars, who will discuss the significance of free speech and its limitations. The seminar will run from 5-6 p.m. on Zoom. 51²è¹Ý Law Clinical Associate Professor Evangeline Sarda will lead the Boston College student discussion with select students from 51²è¹Ý Law.

The second panel, “Coming Together Across Difference: Finding Common Ground Across Identities and Political Divide,” will take place at 5 p.m. on February 13, followed by a 51²è¹Ý student discussion led by Assistant Professor of Theology Joshua Snyder.

Additional “Dialogue & Action” sessions are scheduled for February 27 and March 25.

Charles F. Donovan, S.J., Dean of the Lynch School of Education and Human Development Dean Stanton Wortham and Libby Professor of Law and Theology Cathleen Kaveny said they were honored to lead 51²è¹Ý’s effort in the “Dialogue & Action” series at the request of Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley.

“Boston College is pleased to join with our local peer institutions in this effort to encourage civil dialogue about contentious issues,” said Wortham. “We look forward to providing students and faculty an opportunity to hear from 51²è¹Ý and local experts on approaches to constructive conversation.”

Added Kaveny, “One of the tasks of universities in our age is to facilitate conversation about contentious issues in a way that sheds light rather than heat. Massachusetts is a global center of higher education, and it is exciting to collaborate with faculty from so many distinguished institutions in addressing a key challenge of our times.”

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