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Five Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Miss the 2016 FIRE Student Network Summer Conference

The eighth annual FIRE Student Network Conference is just around the corner! If you’re a student interested in free speech, this conference is a must-attend.

Here are the top five reasons you should join us in Philadelphia on July 15–17:

1. Connect with other campus rights defenders.

By networking and collaborating with other students throughout the weekend, you’ll learn about all the ways other students have changed the free speech culture on their campus for the better. Conference attendees hail from an array of schools, from small liberal arts colleges, to the Ivy Leagues, to the country’s largest state institutions (and everywhere in between). These talented students will have a variety of strategies to share.

2. Work closely with FIRE staff.

FIRE staff will be leading breakout sessions and will be available to answer your questions throughout the conference. When you leave, you’ll have made important connections so that ideas generated during the weekend become a reality when you return to campus this fall.

3. Hear about censorship’s harmful effects from Alice Dreger and Jason Riley.

Jason Riley
Alice Dreger

This year’s keynote speakers have faced controversy and censorship on campus due to their published works. We’re confident Alice Dreger and Jason Riley will inspire your passion for defending and protecting free speech rights for both students and faculty. Dreger resigned from her professor position at Northwestern University in 2015 after her dean censored an article in a faculty journal she had edited. Riley, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and columnist for The Wall Street Journal, recently wrote about being disinvited from a scheduled speaking engagement at Virginia Tech because of vague concerns that his opinions might upset people on campus. These two have experienced censorship firsthand, and they’re ready to share what they’ve learned with you.

4. Learn effective and focused strategies to implement on your campus.

FIRE staff will address what’s happening on your campus with interactive, targeted sessions. Whether you’re an activist, a student journalist, a member of your school’s student government, or just looking to learn more about your rights, you’ll leave Philadelphia with the knowledge and resources to start the school year ready to take on censorship.

5. Get inspired in the city that was the birthplace of our Constitution!

The FIRE Student Network Conference will be held at Drexel University and the National Constitution Center, which is just steps away from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. On your Saturday afternoon break, you can grab a cheesesteak or soft pretzel and soak in Philadelphia’s rich history.  

These are just the biggest reasons you want to consider attending our summer conference. There are so many more.

To join us in July, apply today! The conference is free to attend and open to current students at U.S. colleges and universities. Housing and meals will be provided. Travel reimbursement for up to $300 per student will be available to help students travel to and from Philadelphia.

See you soon!

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