Greg Lukianoff, a renowned First Amendment attorney, free speech advocate, author, and president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), will speak from 6–7 p.m., October 8, at the State Historical Society of Missouri.
Lukianoff will explore free speech, knowledge creation, open dialogue, critical thinking, and resilience. Campus and community members are invited to this free lecture and discussion.
“To understand the world, it’s crucial to know what others really think and that can only happen when people feel they can be their authentic selves,” said Greg Lukianoff, who emphasizes that open dialogue is essential for progress and the development of critical thinking skills.
A New York Times best-selling author, Lukianoff has authored and co-authored several books and papers on campus censorship and free speech. His work has been published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and other notable newspapers and journals.
Lukianoff became the first recipient of the Russell Kirk Center’s Richard D. McLellan Prize for Free Speech and Expression. He has testified before the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives about free speech issues within and outside of American higher education.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.
Lukianoff’s lecture is a featured Open Minds Initiative presentation.
The Open Minds Initiative is a comprehensive effort led by Mizzou’s College of Arts and Science to strengthen the promise of higher education, bridge ideological differences, and promote the values of democracy throughout Missouri, and beyond.