MADISON, Wis.—The University of Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue is hosting a panel discussion Monday, April 24, on the First Amendment, civil dialogue, and creating a marketplace of ideas at our public universities.
“Fostering a Marketplace of Ideas” will take place at UW-Eau Claire’s Centennial Hall, room 1614, 1698 Park Avenue, Eau Claire, Wis., from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The panel will feature Rep. Jodi Emerson, D-Eau Claire; Sen. Jesse James, R-Altoona; Eric Kasper, professor of political science and director of the Menard Center for Constitutional Studies; and April Bleske-Rechek, professor of psychology. Bleske-Rechek and Kasper are members of the research team that conducted the recent survey of UW System student viewpoints on free speech. The discussion will be moderated by UW System President Jay Rothman.
The Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue is overseen by the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service and is one of several new UW System civil dialogue initiatives. It helps coordinate various research and policy centers across the UW System that are focused on the Constitution and public affairs for the purpose of sharing best practices, joint programming, and discussing ways to elevate civil dialogue and the First Amendment on UW campuses.
Note: Visitors to campus may park in Visitor Lots A or B near the Flesch Family Welcome Center, 127 Roosevelt Avenue. Please stop at the Welcome Center front desk to register for a parking permit at no cost before proceeding to Centennial Hall.
The University of Wisconsin System serves approximately 161,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the UW System is Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state UW System graduates stay in Wisconsin five years after earning a degree – with a median salary of more than $66,000. The UW System provides a 23:1 return on state investment. UW System universities also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy. The UW System and its employees are purpose-driven, people-focused, and committed to stewardship.