Author Nadine Strossen will deliver Washburn’s annual iRead lecture Tuesday, Oct. 11

       Topeka, Kan. –  The Washburn University community is reading “Hate: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship” by Nadine Strossen this fall semester as part of the iRead program. Washburn University’s iRead program is coordinated by Washburn’s Mabee Library to encourage a campus-wide reading experience, particularly among first-year students. Strossen will deliver the annual iRead lecture at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 in Lee Arena. This event is free and open to the public.

        “HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship,” dispels misunderstandings plaguing our perennial debates about hate speech vs. free speech, showing that the First Amendment approach promotes free speech and democracy, equality and societal harmony. “HATE” has earned praise from ideologically diverse experts, including progressive Harvard University professor Cornel West and conservative Princeton University professor Robert George.

        Strossen is a leading expert in constitutional law and human rights, and is the immediate past president of the American Civil Liberties Union (1991-2008). She currently serves on the advisory boards of EPIC (the Electronic Privacy Information Center), FIRE (the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) and the Heterodox Academy. The “National Law Journal” has named Strossen one of America’s “100 Most Influential Lawyers” and several other publications have named her one of the country’s most influential women.

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