The President’s Series: From Cancel Culture to Book Bans: Is Free Expression Under Attack?

The President’s Series on Intellectual Freedom

Join the President of the Library Board and members of the Board of Trustees for a series of special events exploring and discussing one of the most pressing topics of our day: intellectual freedom, free expression, and civil liberties in American institutions. Guest speakers, including legal experts and constitutional scholars, will help make sense of current events, landmark historical precedents, and their impact on our lives today.

Speakers barred from college campuses. Intellectual discourse and diversity of perspectives shut down. Books being banned from schools and public libraries. Over the past few years, there have been increasing reports of censorship and attempts to limit free speech and access to materials and ideas. What is happening nationwide, and what does it mean for the future?

A legal expert and advocate on intellectual freedom and civil liberty will offer a national perspective, describe why and how advocacy groups are responding, and answer questions and concerns about the complex intersections of rights, ideology, and the role of public institutions.

Guest Speaker

Aaron Terr, J.D., is the Director of Public Advocacy at FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression), which has served as the nation’s leading defender of fundamental rights on college campuses for over two decades. In 2022, FIRE expanded its mission into off-campus free speech advocacy and legal defense.

Aaron Terr is a native of Long Island, New York, and graduated from Vassar College in 2007. He went on to attend the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was a member of the Virginia Law Review. After earning his J.D. in 2012, Aaron worked as a judicial clerk and then as a staff attorney at the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. A former volunteer for the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Aaron has a longstanding interest in civil liberties.  

The President's Series

Welcome to the President's Series—an engaging collection of special events hosted by the Library in collaboration with the President of the Board and members of the Library Board of Trustees. Join us for thought-provoking discussions and explorations of the most pressing topics shaping our world today: intellectual freedom, free expression, and civil liberties in American institutions. Guest speakers, including legal experts and constitutional scholars, will help make sense of current events, landmark historical precedents, and their impact on our lives.

As we bring together brilliant minds and diverse perspectives, this series promises insightful conversations that delve into the heart of contemporary issues. Immerse yourself in a forum where ideas are shared, debated, and expanded upon, fostering a deeper understanding of our rapidly evolving world.