UC Irvine actively engages the
community to foster a civil dialogue on campus. The exercise and
protection of freedom of speech and expression are at the core of the
University’s mission of teaching, research, and public service. Equally
so is our commitment to modeling respectful dialogue. The following
activities are samples of our ongoing efforts to address free speech,
academic freedom, and civility in a multitude of venues including
programs, meetings, social gatherings and public statements.
April 24-26, 2009: The UC Student Leadership Summit. Presented in cooperation with the UCI Dalai Lama Scholars, the summit is intended to engage and support student leaders who are committed to authentic and civil dialogue regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This statewide gathering promises to develop more informed student leaders and organizations on UC campuses by advancing greater understanding and cooperation. Speakers included Shannon Shibata, Director, Center for New Diplomacy, Jerusalem; Avihu Cohen, Director of Special Projects, Center for New Diplomacy, Jerusalem; and Usama Al Zoughbi, Citizens Diplomacy Project Coordinator, Wi'am, The Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center, Jerusalem.
April 25, 2009: The Need For New Diplomacy In the Middle East: A presentation and open discussion with Shannon Shibata, Avihu Cohen and Usama Al Zoughbi.
April 7, 2009: University Synagogue event
April 3, 2009: Community Event with CeCe Sloan at the L.I.F.E. Community in Laguna Woods
March 10, 2009: Intercultural Journeys: Bridging Peace – Melodies and Dialogues of the Middle East. Performance and open dialogue. Celebrated Oud virtuoso and singer, Naser Musa and Philadelphia Orchestra cellist, Udi Bar-David played a blend of Arabic and Jewish melodies to UCI. An open discussion followed the performance, bringing partnership between people from all different backgrounds. Sponsored by UCI Center for Citizen Peacebuilding and UCI Middle East Studies Student Initiative.
March 3, 2009: Presentation and dinner event at L.I.F.E. in Laguna Woods
February 4, 2009: Presentation at Temple Bat Yahm, Newport Beach
January 28, 2009: Campus Forum – The Unfolding Crises in the Middle East
January 27, 2009: Interview with Iranian Radio
January 14, 2009: A Discussion on the War in the Middle East, a Jewish-Muslim dialogue at Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine
January 8, 2009: Presentation at the OC Human Relations Commission in Irvine
December 16, 2008: Presentation with Humanity Unites at the Cousins Club of Orange County in Anaheim
November 17, 2008: KUCI Subversity: Olive Tree Initiative. KUCI interview Omar Bustami and Moran Cohen on their trip to the Middle East to see for their own eyes the situation lived by Israelis and Palestinians.
October 23, 2008: Beyond Stereotypes: Faces and Voices of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. A presentation and open dialogue with members of the Olive Tree Initiative about their journey to the Middle East. Moderated by Professor Wayne Sandholtz, UCI School of Social Sciences.
2009
- The Angela Davis Project – Mountains That Take Wing: Angela Davis, Yuri Kochiyama and the Urgency of Now. A feature documentary on women of color cultural workers featuring conversations that span over ten years between Professor Davis and Grassroots community activist Yuri Kochiyama. The film screening examines cultural activism as intellectual and political work. Forum after the screening follows the event. Panelists include film-makers Dr. H.L.T. Quan, School of Justice and Social Inquiry, Arizona State University; C.A. Griffith, School of Theatre and Film, Arizona State University; and faculty respondent Frank Wilderson III, UCI African American Studies & Drama. Presented by the UCI African American Studies. Co-sponsored by UCI Cross-Cultural Center, Afrikan Student Union, the Ph.D. Program in Visual Studies, Anthropology, the Gender Education Series, Women's Studies, Asian American Studies, Chicano/Latino Studies, the Center for Law, Society and Culture, Chemers Gallery of Tustin, and the Center for Global Peace and Conflict Studies.
- The Deconstruction Zone. Students share their understanding of social problems and oppression through interactive media, passive display and reflective discussion. Coordinated by R.E.A.C.H. – Reaffirming Awareness and Community Harmony, co-sponsored by the UCI Cross-Cultural Center.
- Israeli and Palestinian activists from OneVoice share perspectives on peace. What Are You Willing To Do To End Israeli-Palestinian Conflict? Rami Rabayah and Rotem Yossef, Palestinian and Israeli youth activists from OneVoice Movement, share their experiences in the Middle East. Presented by the Center for Citizen Peacebuilding, Middle East Studies Student Initiative (MESSI) and the UCI Difficult Dialogues.
- Jews, Arabs, and Government Officials: Power Relations Inside Israel Today. A lecture by Dr. David Wesley, author of State Practices and Zionist Images: Shaping Economic Development in Arab Towns in Israel. Sponsored by the UCI Difficult Dialogues.
- "Transformation Into Tolerance: One Man's Journey." From Egyptian Cell to U.S. Senate, an Islamist Once Blacklisted from Three Countries Speaks. Presentation by Maajid Nawaz, founder of the Quilliam Foundation. Sponsored by Prosperitas and the UCI Center for Citizen Peacebuilding.
- Elaine Brown, former Black Panther Party member, discussed the prison industrial complex. Hosted by the UCI Afrikan Student Union and Afrikan Consciousness Quarter, co-sponsored by the UCI Cross-Cultural Center.
- Khaled Abu Toameh, Arab-Israeli Journalist: Voice of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and his experience writing for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) without freedom of press. Presented by Anteaters of Israel. Sponsored by Hillel Foundation of Orange County and co-sponsored by UCI Student Affairs.
- Conflict Experiences of UCI Students. UCI students who were war veterans shared their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan - how it affected their lives, outlook, and feelings about the war. The panelist included Johnny Yang (US Army), served in Iraq; Dave Curry (US Marines), served in Iraq, Chris Raheb (US Marines), served in East Africa; and civilians Ilana Zelener and Noah Saeedy. Presented by the International Studies Public Forum (ISPF) and sponsored by the International Studies Program and the UCI Veterans Student Union.
- Passport to Leadership. Advocacy and Allies, presented by Kevin Huie, Director, Cross-Cultural Center. This workshop allowed individuals to understand under-representation and marginalization, which groups of people are victims to these forms of oppression, and how to advocate and be an ally for these groups of people as a student leader on a college campus. Participants are given the opportunity to express their own need for advocacy and to strategize ways to assure equity and access within the groups. Organized by the Office of the Dean of Students and UCI Cross-Cultural Center.
- Young Americans: The Exhibition – Photographs of Sheila Pree Bright. Portraiture to explore Generation Y's thoughts and feelings about America. Sponsored by the UCI Difficult Dialogues, the Program in African American Studies, and the Department of Art History.
- Is Proposition 8 Legal? A Forum on Marriage Equality. Legal discussion on Prop 8 in the face of the upcoming California Supreme Court case. Featured UCI School of Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, Professor Katherine Darmer of Chapman University School of Law and Tiffany Chang, second year UCI law student. Presented by the UCI Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center, in conjunction with the UCI School of Law and the Orange County Equality Coalition.
- Women and the Military. Discussions on the ongoing issues facing women in the military. Panelists included Wendy Barranco, Iraq Veteran Combat Medic; and 27-year career Veteran Cynthia E. Perry, RN, Ph.D.. Presented by UCI Veteran Services, in conjunction with the UCI Cross-Cultural Center Gender Education Series.
- The 25th Annual Martin Luther King Symposium – Dr. Joseph L. White Keynote Lecture. Post-Inauguration: Hope for the New Change. Scholar and activist Dr. Lani Guinier speaks about educational inequities and how oppression is pervasive in current education policy. Presented by the UCI Cross-Cultural Center.
- A Light for Gaza. UCI community gathered for a candlelight vigil in commemoration of the innocent lives lost in the military operation that claimed more than 1,300 lives, many more injured, and destroyed thousands of homes in Gaza. Led by the UCI Society of Arab Students (SAS).
- Passport to Leadership. Jan Serrantino, Director, Disability Services Center: Civil Rights in Employment and Education. This workshop highlighted a brief history of American Civil Rights including the origins of rights for the disabled in the workplace and in education. Organized by the Office of the Dean of Students and UCI Disability Services Center.
- Voice of Gaza Student Speak-Out rally and march. Hosted by the Coalition of Student Organizations.
2008
- Candlelight Vigil for
Mumbai. Campuswide candlelight vigil to commemorate the 188 human lives
lost and more than 293 injured in the Mumbai terror attack. Hosted by
Anteaters for Israel, co-sponsored by UCI Student Affairs.
- Art Miles Mural Project Pyramid. The colorful and passionate ten-year movement focuses on sustainable local, national and international cooperation. Through this community gathering, Art Miles will complete 12 miles of murals, painted by people of all ages and culture. In 2010, at the end of the UN Decade for Culture and Peace and Non Violence for the Children of the World, the global collection of murals will be exhibited at the Great Egyptian Pyramids-making the largest international art exhibition by the global community in history – a lasting legacy for the 21st century.
- 24th Annual Rainbow Festival & Conference. Diversity, Politics, and the Election – What's Next? Dr. Carlos Munoz Jr., emeritus faculty at UC Berkeley, explores the nature of politics and the danger of declaring politicians as models or heroes for youth. Sponsored by the UCI Cross-Cultural Center
- 24th Annual Rainbow Festival & Conference. Underground Undergrads. A teach-in on immigrant students and their struggle to create political change. The event featured the authors of a new student publication, Underground Undergrads: UCLA Undocumented Immigrant Students Speak Out. Sponsored by UCI Cross-Cultural Center, UCI School of Sciences' Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, M.E.Ch.A. de UCI and the UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education.
- Passport to Leadership. Manuel N. Gómez, Vice Chancellor Student Affairs: Free Speech - what makes free speech so important, and how can you exercise your right to free speech responsibly as a student leader? The workshop wrestled with the complicated issues surrounding free speech on a university campus. Organized by the Office of the Dean of Students.
- UCI Student Affairs Professional Development Conference: Preparing Leaders for the Future. Free Speech and Civility on Campus, plenary speech by Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky. Free Speech on Campus: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Chief Counsel Diane Geocaris and Assistant Executive Vice Chancellor and Director Kirsten Quanbeck. Hosted by the Office of the Vice Chancellor Student Affairs.
- Safe Zone. A symbol of UCI's commitment to diversity and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community on campus. Open to any campus affiliate, this on-going program trains individuals to identify as Allies that are informed, supportive, and affirming of our LGBT communities at UCI. Safe Zone creates a more welcoming campus climate for LGBT and Ally faculty, staff and students. Sponsored by the UCI Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center, the program will foster a community that can network and embrace sexual and gender identities.
- All University Leadership Conference – 25 Years of Growth: Leadership From The Ground Up. Topics on Free Speech included Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky perspective on free speech in an academic environment; University Ombudsman Michael Chennault's presentation When it comes to Conflict: What's your approach? a workshop on approaching conflict and the importance of knowing what triggers fears, biases and hot buttons; and student sessions on The Issue of Free Speech: How can we better appreciate different opinions and points of view. Organized by the Office of the Dean of Students.
- Humanity Unites' dialogue on the current media focus on Iran. Panelists included Ali Shakeri, founder and community advisory board member of the UCI Center for Citizen Peacebuilding; Kevin O'Grady, Ed.D., Orange County Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League; and Dr. Mohammad Sahimi, NIOC Chair in petroleum engineering and materials science at the University of Southern California; and Liana Foksheneanu, former director of Business Development for the Merage U.S.-Israel Trade Foundation, Economic Officer at the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C and former Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. Hosted by Humanity Unites.
- UCI's 3rd Annual Summer Multicultural Leadership Institute. A weekend long program that provided approximately 70 incoming first year students to engage in dialogue and address issues of free speech, diversity, conflict management and social justice. Sessions included a workshop on Free Speech by Vice Chancellor Manuel N. Gómez: What's Mine Is Yours. Organized by the Office of the Dean of Students.
- 24th Annual MLK, Jr. Symposium Keynote/Dr. Joseph L. White Lecture: Julian Bond, President, NAACP: Crossing the Color Line. Presented by the UCI Cross-Cultural Center.
- Exhibit: From a Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace: Transforming the Human Spirit.
- Robert Audi, David E. Gallo Chair in Ethics and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. Role of Religious Considerations in Public Discourse of Pluralistic Democracies. Sponsored by the UC Irvine Interdisciplinary Center for the Scientific Study of Ethics and Morality and the Abraham I. Melden Chair in Moral Philosophy .
2007
- The Case for Peace in the Middle East. Presentation by Alan Dershowitz, author and Harvard Law Professor. Sponsored by UCI Hillel: Jewish Student Union, Anteaters for Israel, Alpha Epsilon Pi at UCI, StandWithUs, the Jewish Federation of Orange County and the Hillel Foundation of Orange County.
- Spiritual and Religious Alliance for Hope (SARAH) panel presentation.
- All University Leadership Conference – Zot's Anatomy: Dissecting Leadership. Sessions included Is there a Price to Free Speech? by Vice Chancellor Student Affairs Manuel N. Gómez, and Diversity and Intercultural Communication by Raid Faraj, Senior Investigator/Diversity Educator, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Organized by the Office of the Dean of Students.
-
Global Conversations: A Festival of Marginalized Languages Conference.
An opportunity to reflect on how we can encourage conversation among
and between languages in scholarship, activism, literature, teaching
and performance. Sponsored by the Ford Foundation's Difficult Dialogues, the Office of Research Administration at UCI, UCI Center for Asian Studies, the UCI Cross-Cultural Center, HumaniTech®, Dr. Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture.
- UC Irvine-Israeli Engineering Exchange Program. Agreement with Technion – Israel Institute of Technology & Tel Aviv University. Sponsored by Henry and Susan Samueli.
-
Abraham’s Vision is a conflict transformation organization that
explores group and individual identities through experiential and
political education. Abraham’s Vision will work on the UCI campus in
2007-08.
- A Maccabiah for the Mind Symposium: Sports, Ethnicity, Gender and the Struggle for Human Rights
- Second Summer Multicultural Leadership Institute: A residential
program to provide personalized training for first-year students on
issues of diversity, conflict management and social justice.
- Presentation of inaugural UC Irvine Ethics Fellowship awards.
- Stand Together
for Tolerance. UC Irvine Academic Senate event.
- Vice Chancellor’s panel on Difficult Dialogues at the UCI Executive Roundtable Annual Retreat. The Role of Freedom of Speech: Courses and Conversations that Encourage Respect on Campus.
- A lecture and discussion with Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States of America. Over 3,400 students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered to hear Former President James Earl Carter's views concerning the Middle East conflict between Israel and Palestine. Hosted by the UCI Center for the Study of Democracy and the UCI Model United Nations in association with the UCI Center for Citizen Peacebuilding and the Department of Political Science in the School of Social Sciences.
- Cultures of Violence: Comparative Literature Graduate Conference
-
OneVoice: A non-partisan movement of moderate Israelis and
Palestinians. Public presentation by the founder and Israeli and
Palestinian students about their program to create a public voice for
politically moderate citizens in the Middle East.
- Lily Gardner Feldman: From Enmity to Unity: The Principle of Reconciliation in International Relations and its Practice in German Foreign Policy.
- Everything You Wanted to Know About Judaism But Were Afraid to Ask:
featured panel: Rabbi Dov Fischer, Beth Jacob Congregation Irvine;
Rabbi Dennis Linson, Temple Judea Laguna Hills; Rabbi Peter Levi,
Temple Beth El Aliso Viejo. Sponsored by the UCI Cross-Cultural Center.
- Program in Jewish Studies: Susan Derwin, Ph.D. Primo Levi and the Limits of Testimony.
- UCI Ethics Fellow
- Publication of Impressions/Expressions, Vol. 4: Difficult Dialogues.
2006
- The Middle East in 2007: Same Old Story or a New Beginning?
A panel featuring UCI Professors discussing the events of the last year
in the Middle East and larger Muslim world, and likely developments in
the coming year. Panelists include: Nasrin Rahimieh, Director of the
Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies, UCI; Lina Kreidie, Department of
Political Science, UCI; Mark LeVine, Professor of Modern Middle Eastern
History, UCI; and moderator, Jon Elliott, Air America Radio host.
Co-sponsors include: Middle East Studies Student Initiative, Department of
History, and the Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies.
-
Chancellor's Distinguished Fellow Dr. David Hamburg: Never Again: Practical Steps Toward the Prevention of Genocide.
- Irvine Lecture in Critical Theory, Eyal Weizman: Lethal Theory.
- Religious Diversity: An Interfaith Dialogue. This panel features two
religious leaders – a Muslim and a Jew – who will critically engage the
audience in an open dialogue about their faith in relation to our
society. The panelists will be Sadullah Khan, Executive Director of
Religious Affairs at the Islamic Center of Irvine and Rabbi Richard
Steinberg, Congregation Shir Ha-Ma'alot. Sponsored by Difficult
Dialogues, Hillel: The Jewish Student Union, Muslim Student Union, Vice
Chancellor Student Affairs, American Indian Student Union, Rainbow
Festival.
- Marcos Aguinis: The Presence of Jews in Latin America: Then and Now.
- Political Upheaval Abroad, Free Speech at Home: The Domestic Implications of International Crisis, presented by Vice Chancellor Manuel Gómez. Sponsored by International Studies Program and Difficult Dialogues Project.
- 23rd All-University Leadership Conference. Student leaders gather to
discuss campus issues and plan for the coming year. Key university
administrators attend to discuss UC Values. UC Values poster campaign
unveiled. Contest announced to student groups. They can win their own
club poster by sharing how their group promotes one or more UC values.
- New Student Convocation official launch of the student focus of the
Irvine campus UC Values campaign. Speakers including UCI Chancellor
Drake discuss values.
- UCI launches inaugural Summer Multicultural Leadership Institute: A
residential program to provide personalized training for first-year
students on issues of diversity, conflict management, and social
justice. UC Ethical Values are a part of the program for 60 new
incoming student leaders.
- Student Affairs summer orientation programs includes workshop on UC Ethical Values: On Civility, Character, Citizenship, Decision Making and other Good Stuff! This is presented to the new and transfer students and parents at the summer orientation program.
- Langson Library Exhibit: The War Within: Dissent During Crisis in America.
- Deputy Prime Minister, Abkhazia and Liana Kvarchelia, Deputy Director of the Center for Humanitarian Programs: The Abkhaz-Georgian Dialogue, a discussion of Difficult Dialogues in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict.
- Gabriele M. Schwab, Ph.D. for Ngugi wa Thiong'o. Langson Library Exhibit opening speaker: Dissent and Dialogue in a World at War.
- Round Table Discussion on New Directions in Jewish Studies.
- Associated Students of University of California, Irvine pass
legislation that “supports and embraces with warm hearts and open minds
the Statement of Ethical Values adopted by the Regents of the
University of California” and “encourages integrity, excellence,
accountability and respect.”
- Yossi Olmert, Ph.D. Israel: A Discussion of Recent Events.
- Wellek Library Lecture Talal Asad: Thinking About Suicide Bombing: Terrorism; Suicide Terrorism; Horror and Suicide Terrorism.
- Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellow William Julius Wilson: The Bridge Over the Racial Divide: Rising Inequality & Coalition Politics Re-Examined.
May 7
- The Cordoba Initiative: Jerusalem Dialogues: Why Israel? Why Palestine? Conference.
- Inside, Behind the Scenes from the Yossi Olmert Lecture.
- Chancellor Drake sends messages to the campus on civility.
- Vice Chancellor Gómez’s message to the campus on free speech.
- As'ad AbuKhalil, Ph.D.: The Islam Factor in Western Popular Cultures: Beyond the Danish Cartoons.
- Ishmael Khaldi Lecture.
- Daniel Bar-Tal, Ph.D.: The Psychological Earthquake in 2000: Understanding the Present Impasse in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
- Catarina Kinvall, Ph.D.: The Moral Treatment of Others: Addressing the Ethics of Difference.
- Joseph Carens: Immigrants – How They are Integrated Into American Society.
- Edward Kaufman, Ph. D. and Emmanuel Hassassian: The Role of Israeli & Palestinian Civil Society in Peace Building. Public lecture.
- Elias Khoury, presentation by the author of Gate of the Sun.
- Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellow Mary Frances Berry: Civil Rights in the U.S.: Past, Present and Future?
- Artists for Peace Week: Performance by the Pakistani rock band ‘Junoon.’
- An Ethiopian Jew, music and stories shared by musician Alula Tzadik.
- Latinos and Jews: A Conference on Historical and Contemporary Connections.
2005
- Chancellor Drake sends message to the campus on UCI values.
- New course: History 183: Special Studies in International History. Imagining the Future: Israelis and Palestinians in the 21st Century.
- 22nd All-University Leadership Conference. Student leaders gather to
discuss campus issues and plan for the coming year. Key university
administrators attend to discuss issues and promote free speech and
civility.
- Vice Chancellor Manuel Gómez commentary on civility and free speech published in the New University newspaper.
- “One Small Step Forward” Palestinian-Israeli dialogue initiatives featuring Richard Harris.
- UC Irvine sponsored The Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding,
a presentation featuring Professor Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of
Islamic Studies and Professor of International Relations at American
University, and Professor Judea Pearl, Director of UCLA’s Cognitive
Systems Laboratory and father of the slain journalist. A whole day
devoted to activities and dialogue promoting Jewish Muslim
understanding.
- Office of the Dean of Students hosts Gender and Cultural Differences in Response to Terrorism presentation.
- UCI Cross-Cultural Center sponsors Addressing Hate in Our Community.
- Student Alliance of Dialogue and Understanding holds first meeting.
- $30 Million gift from Paul Merage for the Paul Merage School of Business.
- UCI Cross-Cultural Center hosts The Differences Between Us.
- Vice Chancellor Manual Gómez’s article on free speech published in the New University newspaper.
- "A Case Study-University of Haifa" presented by Professor Ron Robin, Dean of Students at University of Haifa.
2004
- 11th Annual Religious Diversity Forum – Conflict Resolution: The Role of Religion and Sprituality.
- A Closer Look at Hate. Sponsored by the UCI Cross-Cultural Center and Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity.
- Five part series, Jews/Muslims/Christians In Dialogue, presented as part of the UCI Community Forum.
- 21st All-University Leadership Conference. Student leaders gather to
discuss campus issues and plan for the coming year. Key university
administrators attend to discuss issues and promote free speech and
civility. When Cultures Clash: What Do You See? Rusty Kennedy, Executive Director Orange County Human Relations Commission, moderates the "super" session.
- Vice Chancellor Gómez’s letter regarding free speech published in the New University newspaper.
- Conflict Prevention student organization established.
