Policy Talks
For Policy Talks, three panelists (two alumni of UM's Department of Philosophy and Religion as well as one regional leader) each offer a short proposal on a contentious and real-world issue (topics vary by year). Panelists discuss what they think the best approach or resolution would be to address the issue given their expertise. After the panelists each give their presentations, a second panel of UM faculty poses questions to the initial panelists, leading to a brief conversation among all of the panelists. The audience may submit questions to any of the panelists (guests or UM faculty) screened by a moderator (to ensure relevance, clarity, civility). A catered reception, at which attendees continue the conversation with panelists informally, follows the panel and Q and A session.
Click here for more information about this year's event.
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2019: Religious Freedom Laws
C. J. Rhodes, Eleanor Ruffner, Richard Howorth, Sarah Moses, Matthew Hall, and Amy McDowell
The common reading resource (see additional documents below) for this event is the Honors thesis of Religion major Samuel Brassell, "The Baptist Tradition and Religious Freedom: Recent Trajectories." This 2019 thesis provides an analysis of religious freedom laws in the state of Mississippi. We encourage all attendees to read this common reading resource prior to the event for a more focused conversation during the Q and A session and during the reception.