The future of speech and ‘microaggressions’ on college campuses (#AT30)

The University of California has come under fire this summer for a series of workshops for deans and department heads on so-called microaggressions — “slights, snubs or insults…that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target people based solely on their marginalized group membership,” according to a University memo. They can be intentional or not, and range from questions such as “Where were you born?” to statements about America being a melting pot, or claiming that gender plays no part in who you hire. UC officials claim these types of microaggressions can create a hostile learning environment and they advise faculty to avoid them; Opponents say it’s tantamount to censorship. Are efforts to protect students from emotional distress limiting important campus debate?

What responsibility should the university have in balancing free speech with protecting against offending others? As college students head back to school, we’ll go with them. In the next AirTalk on the road, Larry Mantle is heading to the University of California-Irvine for a lively discussion about the future of speech on American campuses.

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