A message on freedom and diversity

Recently, there was a lot of discussion about freedom of speech on campus. This is due to a letter from the Dean of the University of Chicago University Student Union to the students to come. Some people asked about the location of the CMC

Freedom of speech and diversity of public opinion is the foundation of the Academy's mission. Both teachers and the Board recognize that the principle of free expression of the University of Chicago is consistent with our principles.

We encourage our professors to intelligently challenge our students. We teach sensitive materials. We are not obliged to trigger warnings. We invite controversial speakers. We also grant these rights to students regardless of whether they agree with teachers, administrators, or each other.

Our new Campus Resource Center is equally committed to inclusiveness, openness and diversity. Quote that charter:

First of all, regardless of background, identity, point of view, values, the center is comprehensive and open to all. Invite all the students and decide to positively create opportunities for the widest student.

Second, the center will concentrate on the principles of diversity of ideas, beliefs, opinions. It is not institutionalizing a single way of thinking, but rather reflects the core values ​​of the institution, focusing on complex issues in thoughtful, critical, respectful and interdisciplinary ways.

In order to take full advantage of the free communication of rewarding ideas, we must ensure that all people with different perspectives, experiences and analysis are included in our dialogue. We will protect freedom of association as individual and collective rights. We refuse exclusion attacks and advertising attacks as barriers to learning. All of us - students, faculty and staff, and staff - must comply with the high standards of civilization. We all want to challenge ourselves, analyze the problem in different ways, develop rigorous knowledge research tools, care and support each other to support the spiritual customs of educated citizens There is no doubt.

This is the work of Temple of Athena. This is the mission of our laboratory. This is the purpose of our future dialogue event (You.Me.Cartin CMC.). This is our course, our life, and the whole experience of the student. This is what we have been doing since our founding 70 years ago, which is the cornerstone of our work today.

Regardless of the diversity and generosity of the writer encouraging and inspiring freelancers, young students are often resisted by adults who share the same ambition. When a freelance writer invited Zlata to America, she told her about Croatia's hatred of her racial hatreds in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even if she is a direct survivor of serious racial violence, some adults still ask her what she is race: Serbs, Croats, Muslims? Adult reactions indicate that they resist the idea of ​​imagining the world in a way that is color or racially blind. But Zurata answered boldly: "I am a man", freelance writers standing next to her, human beings - not their nationality, religion, skin tone - should be the only important things I confirmed that. Finally, we are all the same! "

Because motives and information are different from the number of individuals, when these freedoms are threatened, everyone has the same motivation to exercise freedom of thinking and freedom of speech. Some people paint illegally, others paint only legitimate walls - but the labels of "outsiders" that everyone recycles the streets, cities, communities, and society as a place to rebuild It seems that it attracts. Because street art often takes the approach of dealing with poor people, homeless people, groups of alienated people and recycling and claiming the difficult aspects of life, consumer culture has a lot of glow of shine I will put pressure. Street art often expresses uneasy truth. In a salon (street) of a city artist, art works avoid comments on the hierarchy of power politics in modern society, including those existing in the art world.