Stetson’s Free Inquiry & Expression and the Future of Democracy Series was started in January 2025 to enable open dialogue about a wide variety of timely topics through national speakers, panel discussions and civil discourse.

Thanks to initial success, the series will continue this fall with 12 scheduled events for students, faculty and staff, as well as the community. (Cultural credit is available for students.)

“We’re excited to continue our Free Inquiry & Expression and the Future of Democracy Series into the fall based in no small part on the success of and response to the series in the spring,” said Elizabeth Skomp, PhD, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs and professor of World Languages and Cultures.

Historically, Stetson has been committed to free expression, and recent affirmations of a formal commitment can be traced back to spring 2019, when faculty and staff in DeLand and at the College of Law in Gulfport drafted a statement of principles of free expression, which was approved by the university’s Board of Trustees.

In July 2024, President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD, joined 70 other college presidents of institutions nationwide to advance higher education’s pivotal role in preparing students to be engaged citizens, as well as to uphold free expression on campus. The commitments were made through College Presidents for Civic Preparedness, a consortium designed by the presidents and convened by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars. (See the 2025 College Presidents for Civic Preparedness Impact Report.)

Additionally, in summer 2024 Stetson participated by invitation in the inaugural Academic Freedom Institute at the University of Chicago, where universities were tasked with identifying their institutional structures for academic freedom and developing ongoing plans for embracing both free speech and inclusive excellence. This June, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Kyle Longest, PhD, and David Hill, PhD, professor of Political Science, were in Chicago for the second Academic Freedom Institute. There, they joined representatives from a broad spectrum of colleges and universities — from Harvard and Dartmouth to Virginia Tech and Baylor to Ball State and the College of Charleston — and engaged in discussions regarding the “current challenges around this idea of academic freedom, freedom of expression and institutional neutrality,” Longest stated.

Now, led by President Roellke, discussions will continue on the campus, beginning Sept. 9.

Among the highlights is Sept. 17’s appearance of Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition and a nationally recognized advocate for voting rights and criminal justice reform. On Oct. 28, the keynote speaker is Tony Banout, executive director of the Chicago Forum on Free Inquiry and Expression. On Nov. 18, William B. Taylor, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, will be on the campus to discuss the changing American policy toward Russia.

President Roellke’s view: “Without the free exchange of ideas and the ability to engage in civil and productive discourse, the power of education is compromised. It was not difficult for me to stand strong on these convictions, as they are so fundamental to the educational enterprise and so vital to the personal and intellectual growth of our students.”

Free Inquiry & Expression and the Future of Democracy Series, Fall 2025

(Events are subject to change.)

Things We Don’t Talk About At Dinner — Gender Edition

Addressing a range of sensitive subjects, this recurring series invites you to navigate challenging conversations over a shared meal. In this session, the focus is on gender — examining the cultural messages that shape our understanding of gender and how we express our identities. Together, attendees will explore how expectations around gender impact daily lives and relationships, and how to foster greater understanding. Dinner will be catered by Panda Express. More information is available at Hatters Connect.

Stetson Votes Week

Stetson Votes Week is a vibrant week of nonpartisan voter engagement at Stetson — including voter registration, a Rock for Democracy concert, Constitution Day keynote, and campus-wide trivia and giveaways.

Constitution Day Naturalization Ceremony

Wednesday, Sept. 17, Time TBD
Location TBD

A More Perfect Union: Desmond Meade on the Fight for Amendment 4

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m.
Lynn Presentation Room, Lynn Business Center

Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition and a nationally recognized advocate for voting rights and criminal justice reform, serves as the Constitution Day keynote speaker. Meade will share his personal journey from incarceration to leading one of the most significant expansions of democracy in recent U.S. history — Florida’s Amendment 4, which restored voting rights to more than 1.4 million people with past felony convictions. Also, there will be information about volunteer opportunities with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.

American Global Leadership, Democracy and China in the 21st Century 

Friday, Sept. 19, 5 p.m. (Friends and Family Weekend)
Lee’s Garage, Carlton Union Building

Sponsored by Stetson’s Alexander Hamilton Society student organization, Steven David, professor of International Relations at Johns Hopkins University, will focus on the changes in American grand strategy and national security concerns from the 1900s to today, including the continued struggle of promoting democracy across Asia and the evolution of the American world order in light of global geopolitical changes.

Let My People Vote Day of Action

This event promises to be a powerful afternoon of outreach and advocacy to help register eligible formerly incarcerated individuals in our community to vote. In partnership with the Community Education Project and supported by the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, this event invites the Stetson community to take action through phone banking and canvassing. More information is available at Hatters Connect.

National Voter Education Week

National Voter Education Week, held each October, features daily activities to help students check and update their voter registration while also teaching about the election process, the history of U.S. voting, and the local elected officials. More information is available at Stetson Votes.

Democratization and Autocracy in Latin America

This event, sponsored by the Alexander Hamilton Society student organization, features Carrie Filipetti, executive director of the Vandenberg Coalition. Filipetti has served in several roles in Latin America while representing the United States. Her talk will focus on democratization efforts, democratic backsliding, and the establishment of transparent and stable institutions in Latin America.

Great Minds That Don’t Think Alike: Artificial Intelligence

This is dynamic panel and dialogue recurring series that brings together various voices to explore complex and sometimes controversial issues through civil discourse. This session focuses on Artificial Intelligence, highlighted by a panel of experts with differing viewpoints on the ethical, social, environmental and human implications of AI.

Why is Wrongheaded, Immoral, and Offensive Speech Protected on Campus and Constitutionally?

Keynote speaker Tony Banout, executive director of the Chicago Forum on Free Inquiry and Expression, will lead an in-depth exploration of free inquiry and expression and the future of democracy. This event is supported in part by the Chicago Forum on Free Inquiry and Expression.

Things We Don’t Talk About At Dinner — Patriotism & National Identity

Addressing a range of sensitive subjects, this recurring series invites attendees to navigate challenging conversations over a shared meal. This session explores the ideas of patriotism and national identity. Together, attendees will consider where their personal values align (or don’t) with national narratives, who shapes those narratives, and what it means to care about a country in complex and changing times. Dinner will be catered by Moe’s Southwest Grille. More information is available at Hatters Connect.

Russia, Ukraine and European Regional Security, 1990s to Today — A Conversation with Former Ukrainian Ambassador William B. Taylor

This event, sponsored by the Alexander Hamilton Society student organization, features William B. Taylor, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. Taylor will speak about the changing American policy toward Russia, as well as the threats posed by Russia to the free world and democracy since the Soviet Union’s fall.

-Michael Candelaria