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November 2, 2023
Ask students: How do students describe attempts to shut down some campus speakers in this story? How do you think college administrations should best foster a climate of free speech and student safety?
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Since the attack by Hamas and Israel’s ongoing response, there have been bitter debates on many college campuses over which side bears responsibility. This plays into already raging debates at many schools over free speech and academic freedom. Judy Woodruff visited four colleges to understand how this fits into the nation's political divide. It's part of her series, America at a Crossroads.
For a transcript, click here.
Time codes
0:00 – 2:44: Introduction to free speech debates on campus
2:45 – 4:53: Polling suggests that many students are comfortable with using confrontation to shut down some speakers on campus
4:54 – 6:32: Conservative Ilya Shapiro on being investigated by school administration for social media post
6:33 – 8:59: Profile of American University and program to encourage dialogue and disagreement
9:00 – 13:13: Profile of New College of Florida, law banning some course content and attempts to remake school by governor's administration
News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
Media literacy: This story mentions a number of states that are imposing restrictions on what can be taught at public universities. Where can you go to find out more about those restrictions? Is your school impacted?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?
What students can do: Read the following article about threats on campus amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict and discuss as a class — what obligations do campuses have to protect students from threatening speech? What should campus administrations do to encourage dialogue and free speech at a time when both Jewish and Muslim students, among others, might feel unsafe?
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
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