Presenter: Dr. Wendy Cumming-Potvin, Murdoch University, Western Australia
Date and Time: Thursday, October 18, 2018, 12:30 – 14:00 PM
Location: *UPDATED: MCML 158 (MacMillan, 2357 Main Mall)
When Does Freedom of Speech ‘Cross the Line’? University Battlegrounds, LGBTQI+ Allyship and the Chicago Principles
Recently, following an on-line petition, The University of Western Australia cancelled an on-campus event featuring Quentin Van Meter, a US professor of paediatric medicine who disseminates controversial views about transgender identity. Follow-up media reporting likened the event’s cancellation with censoring freedom of speech and allowing freedom of ignorance. Freedom of speech controversies have also swept across the North American media, highlighting student protests at campuses, such as the University of Chicago and Wilfred Laurier University. Such linguistic battlegrounds have underscored broader societal questions, such as: How can stakeholders navigate the tense landscape between freedom of speech and other human rights, especially when university LGBTQI+ ally programs and many in-house policies are designed to create inclusive and supportive environments, free of discrimination? This interactive seminar will explore possible answers to this question while also encouraging participants to reflect on key concepts, such as human rights, free speech, LGBTQI+ Allyship and educational policy/practice.
Dr. Wendy Marie Cumming-Potvin is an Associate Professor at Murdoch University, Western Australia and is an Affiliate Member at the International Gender Studies Centre, Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford. Her research and teaching interests are in human rights, genders and sexualities, literacies, diversity and inclusion. As an international collaborator for a SSHRC project, Wendy is investigating gender democratisation and transgender equality in Australia, Canada and the USA. Her forthcoming book, with Professor Wayne Martino, is LGBTQI Allies and Participatory Collaborative Research: Education, Advocacy, and Activism(Routledge).
Light refreshments will be served. No RSVP necessary. All are welcome.
This talk will take place on the traditional, unceded, and occupied territories of the Musqueam people.