Division A Vice-Presidential Session: Navigating Academic "Freedom" in the Era of Institutional Silencing, Neoliberalism, and Conservative White Nationalist Political Climate

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

The defunding of higher education, over-reliance on private and neoliberal foundations, and the increased usage of pre-scripted curriculum in university classrooms have severely limited both faculty and students’ abilities to exercise their rights to academic freedom. Such dynamics are presently situated in a white nationalist political climate where the U.S. democracy is becoming destabilized by politicians who intentionally mislead the public with falsehoods over truths, the widespread dissemination of disinformation over social media, and obscuring the notions of free speech from hate speech. This symposium invites community activists, graduate students, early career scholars, and senior faculty members to dialogue ways to support each other to resist and navigate the legal, political, and intellectual dimensions of our social justice work.

Sub Unit

• Division A - Administration

Chairs

• Lolita A. Tabron, University of Denver

• Daniel D Liou, Arizona State University

Participants

• James Joseph "Jim" Scheurich, Indiana University - Indianapolis

• Jeffrey C. Sun, University of Louisville

• Courtney C. Mauldin, Syracuse University

• Mike Hoa Nguyen, University of Denver

• Hilary Lustick, University of Massachusetts - Lowell

• Karen Ramlackhan, University of South Florida

• Elizabeth Gil, Fordham Graduate School of Education

• Ramon Goings, University of Maryland - Baltimore County

• Floyd Cobb, Colorado Department of Education

• Katherine C. Rodela, Washington State University

Moderator

• Susan C. Faircloth, Colorado State University