Keynote Speaker
Joy
Connolly
Professor and President of the ACLS
What is the Purpose of Education in a Democratic Society?
Discourse In Action
9:15 AM
Religion in Free Societies
Sahar Aziz
Professor, Rutgers University
Steven Collis
Professor, The University of Texas at Austin
Andrew Lewis
Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati
Moderator: Eric McDaniel
Professor, The University of Texas at Austin
10:15 AM
Does Meritocracy Exist?
Yasmiyn Irizarry
Associate Professor, The University of Texas at Austin
Richard Reeves
President, The American Institute for Boys and Men
Moderators: Scott Carrell
Professor, The University of Texas at Austin
Karma Chavez
Professor, The University of Texas at Austin
11:15 AM
Who are the Real Elite?
Kristen Soltis Anderson
Pollster, Author
William Deresiewicz
Author
Michael Lind
Author
Moderator: Daniel Oppenheimer
Director of Public Affairs,
The University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts
2:00 PM
Sticks and Stones — Why is it so Hard to Disagree?
Mina Cikara
Professor, Harvard University
Matthew Levendusky
Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Jay Van Bavel
Professor, New York University
Moderator: Marlone Henderson
Professor, The University of Texas at Austin
3:00 PM
Keynote Lecture:
What is the Purpose of Education in a Democratic Society?
Joy Connolly
President, American Council of Learned Societies and
Distinguished Professor of Classics (by courtesy) at
The Graduate Center, City University of New York
Keynote Discussion Moderator
Pauline Strong
Professor, The University of Texas at Austin
Discourse is a one-day event, hosted by the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin, dedicated to exploring aspects of the relationship between free speech, civil discourse, democracy, and higher education in America. Through a series of moderated arguments on issues of public significance, featuring some of the nation's leading scholars and writers, we seek to model what it looks like to engage in democratic debate and discussion in a spirit of openness and collegiality. We’re also hoping to have some fun.
Free and open to the public · For more information and to request accommodations, contact leora@austin.utexas.edu.
Paid parking available at University Co-op Parking Garage (2214 San Antonio St) and the UT San Antonio Garage (2420 San Antonio St). The Texas Union Ballroom is located on the University of Texas campus at 2308 Whitis Ave.