Academia, Constitutional Law

Utah Valley University Holds Major Conference on Free Speech

200px-UVU_SealI am in Orem, Utah after speaking at the Constitution Day celebrations at Utah Valley University and its conference on privacy in America. I will be returning today but hope to catch one of the panels today at this extraordinary event of the Utah Valley University’s Center for Constitutional Studies. Yesterday, I spoke twice on free speech issues. My first speech was on private actors limiting free speech, the “little brother” problem. The speech (and those of my panelists) was followed by a panel discussion with with New York University and University of Chicago professor Richard Epstein and UCLA professor Eugene Volokh. Later I spoke again on media and free speech followed by a panel with New York Times columnist Stanley Fish.


Both panels were extremely interesting. The first panel included an interesting presentation by Volokh on laws protecting free speech outside of the workplace and a detailed discussion by Epstein of how union laws can restrict speech. We then had a lively discussion and exchanges with the audience. I particularly like catching up with Epstein who also teaches torts and is the author of the casebook that I use at George Washington. Epstein is a towering figure among libertarian scholars. Volokh and I had some great conversations as legal bloggers with many overlapping interests. His blog Volokh Conspiracy remains a fabulous site that has now associated with The Washington Post.

The second panel which included presentations by media expert Lindsay Hoffman and expert on health information Deborah Peel, was particularly lively. Fish, who has long supported limits on free speech and I were obviously polar opposites. If the idea was to have us butt heads, we did not disappoint. We sharply disagreed about the role and essence of free speech. Fish takes a purely instrumental view of free speech and sees censorship as a component to free speech. I take a more normative view of free speech and oppose most limitations. It was even more lively with Epstein in the audience who threw into the melee over free speech.

We finished the conference with a lunch with President Matthew Holland that was prepared by the school’s culinary studies department, which is always an incredible treat with music from school’s celebrated music program.

IMG_0918IMG_0915I have had the pleasure of speaking at the Center for Constitutional Studies in prior years and watch this university grow from a community college to the largest university in the state. The greatest success story of the university is the Center run by Professor Rick Griffin as the founder and director of the Center. Griffin has made the Center an international forum for constitutional discussions — a fitting model given the nearby Sundance festival has done for the arts. Indeed, we all went to dinner at Sundance at its amazing restaurant in the gorgeous mountains of Robert Redford’s oasis. I took a few pictures of the location which is breathtaking with the changing of the trees.

I am always sorry to leave Utah, which remains one of my favorite places on Earth. However, tomorrow I will again debate Berkeley Professor John Yoo at the Constitution Day event sponsored by Hillsdale College at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C. at 10:45 am.

Thank you everyone in Orem and Utah Valley University!

IMG_0911

13 thoughts on “Utah Valley University Holds Major Conference on Free Speech”

  2. I heard from my cohorts at UVU that Professor Turley was in primo form for the conference. I was sad to miss it, but I am living in DC now. I heard it was fabulous. What else would we expect from Dr. (Director) Griffin though? Thanks for all of your support for the Center for Constitutional Studies at UVU and Utah.

  3. Beldar here. How is it that a dog on this planet can write or type out words on a computer and thence “blog” or comment? This can not be a real dog up there in the BarkinDog comment. Some question my credentials and I respond: We are from France! Once I got rid of the conehead about twenty years ago I started to get believed. I only admit to being from Remulak on this blog.

  4. yeah,, and if have Washington or Colorado plates, the Idaho Troopers may even meet you at the Idaho border.

  5. If you like Utah so much how about moving out here, or even to Idaho the you won’ regret leaving. There are law schools in both states.

  6. Looks like you might have found that hot springs about an hour’s hike from the road. About 20 miles from Provo off the Price road. Great area; Provo Canyon is awesome too. Freedom of speech is something the Muslims have very little of; it’s discouraged as irreligious. I guess it was in Christendom too going back more than a century.

  9. Great place to visit. I like to walk around college towns and did in nearby Provo a couple years ago. BYU and Provo are the antithesis of UW and Madison where I live. But, both make for a pleasant and interesting walk.

    Eugene Volokh who is on the discussion panel also has a blog. It’s worth a gander.

  11. I have been awake too long.. What I meant was while you are in Utah. Could you inquire why the above happened, and is it even legal of judge John Morris to have done that in the first place.

Comments are closed.