
LOCAL AND NATIONAL EVENTS

AUGUST 23, 2023
CHARLOTTE RECEPTION
The Board of the UNC Alumni Free Speech Alliance hosted a casual reception to introduce UNC AFSA, its mission, and progress at UNC-CH to Charlotte alumns and friends. The featured speaker was Peder Zane, A columnist for RealClearPolitics and an editor at RealClearInvestigations.
Thank you to everyone who came out to learn about and support UNC AFSA!
APRIL 4, 2023 - MIT
In this debate, co-hosted by the MIT chapter of the Adam Smith Society and the MIT Free Speech Alliance two teams debated the place of academic diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education and whether they should be abolished – a move increasingly called for by DEI critics, including in state government. The debate took place at MIT on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 7:30 PM, and was moderated by Nadine Strossen, past national president of the American Civil Liberties Union.
View Here


MARCH 15, 2023 - CORNELL
The Steamboat Institute and the Cornell Free Speech Alliance hosted a moderated debate on climate policy between Dr. Robert H. Socolow and Dr. Steven Koonin. These events are intended to encourage free thought, open inquiry, and civil discussion on campus. Both participants are superbly accomplished academics, and UNC AFSA was proud to be a sponsor. Click here to view details about the event.
FEBRUARY 23, 2023
DOUGLAS MURRAY
UNC AFSA had the pleasure of hosting Douglas Murray for our first on-campus event and the kickoff for our 2023 Annual Fund Campaign. We had wonderful turnout at Murray’s speech and the subsequent dinner, both of which featured wonderfully insightful commentary on free speech, finding common ground, and charting a way forward with gratitude for our past and innovative solutions for our future.
The event attracted students, faculty, and alumni alike, with a lively and engaged crowd interacting with Douglas Murray and with each other. Murray’s Q&A session evoked a number of thought-provoking questions from students – some supportive while others skeptical – but all resulting in intriguing discussion.
A recording of the event is available on our YouTube channel, please click here to view.

NOVEMBER 2022
STANFORD UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC FREEDOM CONFERENCE
"In November, Stanford University held an Academic Freedom Conference sponsored in part by UNC AFSA! Focused on addressing politicization and the decline of scholarship, the conference featured many notable researchers and academics. Videos from the conference are now available!"
SAFC Video 1 : Conference Introduction by Stanford Professor John Cochrane (11 min)
SAFC Video 2 : The Current Threat To The American University by NYU Professor Jonathan Haidt (17 min)
SAFC Video 3 : The Attack On STEM : The Latest Target Of University Monoculture (40-min Faculty Panel Discussion)
AUGUST 17, 2022 - UNC AFSA KICKOFF EVENT
UNC Alumni Free Speech Alliance’s kick-off reception was held August 17, 2022 in Chapel Hill at the Carolina Brewery. It was fun, with the Q and A most helpful to us. We are particularly grateful to the UNC faculty and board members who attended. Our goal is to support the school’s written policies concerning academic freedom in a rational way.
