Joint Committee on Free Speech Promotion (JCFSP)

The UWL Joint Committee on Free Speech Promotion (JCFSP) was created in 2019. The JCFSP is charged with creating an event (or events) to help our campus celebrate national Free Speech Week, which takes place each year during the third full week of October. Learn more at National Free Speech Week

2023 HIGHLIGHTS FOR WAYS TO USE FREE SPEECH

In Fall 2023, UWL is offering opportunities for students and faculty/staff in free speech training. Higher education frequently wrestles with questions concerning protected speech, counter-speech, academic freedom, protest speech and hate speech in the marketplace of ideas that defines college life. These training modules can help our community to establish a shared framework for the discussion and deliberation of issues related to campus free speech

Faculty/Staff: Free Speech in Policy and Practice – a 40-minute self-paced online workshop provides participants with knowledge on free speech, counter speech, and academic freedom to build an inclusive campus climate that promotes the free exchange of ideas. Self-enroll via Canvas.

Students: Free Speech in Campus Discourse – a 40-minute self-paced online workshop focused on the importance of free speech and academic freedom on a college campus; dispel myths concerning what is protected speech (and what is not); and tips for managing prominent speakers, political protests, and hate speech. Canvas link for students.

For full information about UWL's policies and values on free speech, freedom of expression, and academic freedom, including expectations for students and employees, please click here: www.uwlax.edu/free-speech.

PAST FREEDOM OF SPEECH WEEK EVENTS (2019--2022

2022: STAYING ON MISSION: RACE, EQUITY, AND JUSTICE IN THE MIDST OF POLARIZING POLITICS

2021: LA CROSSE MAYORAL CANDIDATE DEBATE

The Joint Committee on Free Speech Promotion proudly hosted a student-centered virtual mayoral debate. The two candidates for mayor, Vicki Markussen and Mitch Reynolds, answered student questions.

WATCH IT AGAIN

2020: ACTIVISM, INTERSECTIONALITY, AND AGENCY IN THE ERA OF ME TOO

Activism, Intersectionality, and Agency in the Era of Me Too, provide a blueprint for emerging feminist activists to transform their personal trauma, gender & intersectionality oppression

Watch the presentation

2020: MEDIA BIAS & POLITICAL POLARIZATION

Ad Fontes Media, whose mission is “to make news consumers smarter and news media better”. The organization rates news reliability along with associated bias to help people make informed decisions.