Liberal Arts in Action: Responding to This Historic Moment
Leading scholars, journalists, and community voices joined together for a series of virtual panel discussions exploring how liberal arts expertise shapes our understanding of today’s most pressing civic issues—from the role of the media and constitutional rights to the lived impacts of state-sanctioned violence.
In a moment marked by deep political polarization and urgent questions around immigration enforcement and public safety, this event interrogates how language, law, ethics, and community narratives inform our response to current events.
Panelists engaged in rigorous dialogue that bridges academic insight with real-world consequence, and discover how the liberal arts help us make sense of conflict, community, and our shared civic future.
Recordings of Day of Truth & Freedom Sessions
How can we understand this week's political response to state-sanctioned violence, including the fatal shooting of Renee Good, in light of Minneapolis' history of political struggles from 2020? What are the First and Fourth Amendment rights available to citizens and immigrants? How can people conduct constitutional observation? What are the barriers to achieving accountability through the criminal legal process considering the antagonism between the state and federal authorities?
Chair: Valerie Belair Gagnon (Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication)
Panelists:
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Michelle Phelps, Dept of Sociology
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Emmanuel Mauleon, Minnesota Law School
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Carrie Walling, College of Liberal Arts Human Rights Program
Photojournalists play a critical role covering law enforcement, protect, and immigration activities. The panel will discuss the way that their work has changed with the widespread availability of digital recording devices, and in particular this moment in time when everyone is documenting what is happening in the community. They will also discuss the unique professional ethical roles and responsibilities in contrast to citizens activists and constitutional observers. Finally, local photojournalists will discuss their experiences as on-the-ground reporters in the present moment, and compare it to their past reporting experiences, including 2020 civil unrest.
Chair: Regina McCombs (Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication)
Panelists:
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Ben Hovland, MPR News
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Dylan Jacobson, KSTP-TV
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Lewis Karpel, WCCO TV
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Ellen Schmidt, MinnPost
A discussion led by Hubbard School faculty on the topic of First Amendment law and ethics. What rights and responsibilities do journalists have to cover law enforcement activities and protests? What are the rights and responsibilities of citizens and observers of law enforcement activities?
Chair: Elisia Cohen (Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication)
Panelists:
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Jane Kirtley, Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication
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Andy Mannix, ProPublica
Journalists on the ground in communities are uniquely positioned to build trust, or rely on already-created trust, to more deeply document people's experience at this moment. This conversation with local journalists in the Twin Cities who have experience reporting in and for their communities. The conversation will include a look at the journalist's role compared to that of observers who are recording/documenting the operations. How are those roles distinct? Does the public understand the difference between observers and journalists? It will also explore the way close-in reporting can promote empathy in times of strife.
Chair: Gayle Golden, Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Panelists:
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Jon Collins, MPR
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Brian Arola, MinnPost
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Shubhanjana Das, Sahan Journal
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Madison McVan, Minnesota Reformer
Future Events
Additional dates will be announced for panel discussions on topics such as:
- Unrest: The Challenge of Live Coverage
- Psychological Underpinnings of Mass Political Behavior
- The Language of State-Sanctioned Violence
- The Impact on Communities of State Sanctioned Violence
In the Headlines
How CLA Scholars are Helping to Make Sense of this Moment
Recent ICE-involved shootings in Minnesota have prompted public discussion about democracy protest and legal authority. CLA faculty are featured in national and local coverage examining the implications of these events.