Columbia University launches October speaker series

Columbia University has announced that Jelani Cobb, journalism professor and The New Yorker staff writer, will give a presentation called "A Note from the Margin: The Unsafe Spaces of Democracy" on Oct. 11.

The presentation will kick off a series featuring university values that will run throughout the year.

“Through this project, we hope to offer our community the tools we need to better engage in productive conversations about charged issues,” Provost Richard Locke said. “Our goal is not to prioritize any particular topic or viewpoint, but to foster a pluralistic environment where multiple viewpoints can exist and be heard, ultimately leading to a more meaningful understanding of the complex issues we face.”

The series was created after faculty members discussions. Professor of Religious Studies Nancy Khalek and Locke developed the series.

“It seemed necessary to start thinking carefully about how to help students, faculty and staff navigate the potential conflicts that are bound to arise,” Khalek said. “We may not always find a middle ground that suits everyone on all contentious issues, but the point is to learn how to walk respectfully and ethically on many different grounds, without resorting to vilifying or dehumanizing those with whom we disagree.”