Toward a Democratic Speech Environment

Christopher Tinson and Javiera Benavente, co-chairs of Hampshire’s Advisory Council on Speaking Across Resilient Communities (SPARC), published an essay in the national education publication Diversity & Democracy in which they share views that emerged from the campus workshops and numerous conversations facilitated by SPARC, as well as best practices from their work in a wide variety of community projects and organizing experiences. The goal of SPARC, comprised of Hampshire faculty, staff, and students, is to utilize the experiences and expertise of the entire campus community to reinvigorate and re-energize our community’s passion for engaged debate and principled inquiry. Tinson is Associate Professor of Africana Studies and History, and Benavente is Program Director of the Ethics and the Common Good Project. Their essay “Toward a Democratic Speech Environment” is available for reading on the Website of the Association of American Colleges & Universities.