University classrooms in today’s world have become increasingly contested spaces where a variety of opinions can be heard. They are also spaces where learners work through often early-stage ideas and imperfect conceptualizations and formulations. They are and remain spaces with tremendous potential for learning, but on occasion are also spaces of insensitive, awkward, hurtful, or even hateful speech.
This interactive workshop, facilitated by Michael Kozakowski of the Elkana Center, provides faculty and TAs the conceptual tools and a forum of peer exchange to address thorny questions of how to ensure inclusion, civility, and learning in classroom teaching. It explores some of the origins of hurtful speech, strategies to anticipate and address controversial topics, and approaches for responding to insensitive and hurtful comments. Also present will be Markus Petsche of the Disciplinary Committee to address questions about the limits of speech and teacher responsibilities within Austrian and university frameworks, as well as Ana Belén Amil of the Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equality to provide insights on community feedback and perspectives.
All CEU academic and administrative staff, as well as doctoral students (given their teaching responsibilities), are welcome to attend. To promote open discussion, the event will be in-person and will not be recorded. RSVPs requested but not required.