Colleges and universities are supposed to be places of open inquiry, truth-seeking, and constructive disagreement. And yet, students are self-censoring, as are professors… along with censoring others, in record numbers. Why is this happening? What are the consequences? And how do we create spaces where disagreement and perspectival pluralism can flourish, both in and outside educational environments?
Drawing on her time as a fellow at the Segal Center for Academic Pluralism of Heterodox Academy, Colleen will discuss her research on how and why those in college censor themselves and others, and provide an overview of social science research on conformity and censorship. She’ll engage the audience to think through what it means to be courageous when disagreeing with one’s own tribe, and how this might be the key to solving some of the most urgent problems in colleges today.
Colleen Eren is a full professor of Sociology at William Paterson University. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Reason Foundation and was a Fellow at the Segal Center for Academic Pluralism. Colleen is the author of four books: Reform-Nation: The First Step Act and The Movement to End Mass Incarceration, The Impact of Supreme Court Decisions on U.S. Institutions, and Bernie Madoff and the Crisis, as well as a book of poetry, Rip Currents. She is vice president of the board of New Hour for Women and Children, which helps women in reentry. Most famously, she is Arthur Dobrin’s former student.
In person at 38 Old Country Road, Garden City or on Zoom.
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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87199821900
Meeting ID: 871 9982 1900
Please join by 11:00 AM, the meeting will be closed at 11:10 AM