Should hate speech be allowed on college campuses? That\u2019s the topic 22 teams from seven universities within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education will debate at this year\u2019s Fredrick Douglass Institute Collaborative Debate Tournament on Friday, April 7. The championship debate will take place from 4 \u2013 5 p.m. in the Student Senate Chambers located in the University Center on ESU\u2019s campus.<\/p>\n
Storm Heter, Ph.D., head coach of ESU\u2019s debate team and associate professor of philosophy and religious studies said, \u201cThe debaters will take either the affirmative or opposition with arguments such as \u2018hate speech is a verbal assault\u2019 or \u2018hate speech is a freedom of speech.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The Frederick Douglass Debate Society is a program within the Fredrick Douglass Institute Collaborative, a statewide organization that seeks to advance educational engagement and achievement for historically underserved and underrepresented students.<\/p>\n
In keeping with the theme of the weekend, the Fredrick Douglass Research and Art Conference will be held on Saturday, April 8 from 1:30 \u2013 3 p.m. in Beers Lecture Hall. A keynote speech, \u201cWords Matter: Empowering Students through Research and Art,\u201d will be given by Dr. Veronica Watson, professor of English at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.\u00a0 Slippery Rock University\u2019s Afro-Columbian Dance Ensemble will perform.<\/p>\n