Category: Freedom of Speech

Equal Learning Environment September 16, 2017

Free Speech 101: UCLA’s Week on Freedom of Speech

Jerry Kang • September 16, 2017

The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Student Affairs have organized three events during the week of October 16 that will enable UCLA students, staff, faculty, alumni, community members, and friends of the University to listen to, reflect on, and express diverse perspectives and opinions about free speech and its role in the life of our democracy—and the life of UCLA. We look forward to and welcome your presence and participation.

Freedom of Speech August 14, 2017

Charlottesville and Taking a Stand

Jerry Kang • August 14, 2017

It’s almost impossible to stop thinking about what we just witnessed in Charlottesville, Virginia, where White nationalists marched in favor of White supremacy. The responses from local city officials, University administrators, state politicians, all the way up to the President were in some sense predictable—both good and bad. And universities beyond Virginia, all around the country, are now wondering about what to say, whether to say it, to whom, and how. Debilitating our analysis is a confused commitment to “neutrality,” which has legal, political, and pedagogical dimensions.

crosscheck

[v. kraws-chek, kros-]
verb (used with object)

to determine the accuracy of (something) by checking it with various sources
Ice Hockey. to execute a cross-check on (an opponent)

Should it matter that we’re talking about equity, diversity, and inclusion at UCLA – a world-class, public, research university? Absolutely.

We are an institution of higher learning. That means we need to be both emotionally brave and intellectually sharp. We need to learn and never presume that we know all the answers. We need to challenge our preconceptions and be willing to go beyond soundbites, caricatures, and slogans. We need to “up our game,” because the world has grown far more diverse, complex, and conflicted. The way we used to talk about these issues was not good enough back then. Certainly it isn’t good enough now. We need to disrupt the same, worn scripts lest we enter an infinite loop of recriminations. That’s what CrossCheck is intended to.

Inspired by the #BlackBruinsMatter rally in Fall 2015, I launched this platform to help move the dial on how we think and talk about equity, diversity, and inclusion in the University. The first entry about Kanye Western provides more of that origin story.

Some have told me this gambit is risky. They caution me that this isn’t what senior administrators are supposed to do. I’m mindful of that advice. But I think it’s riskier to continue with business as usual. So, take a look. I welcome your engagement.