March 4, 2008

On Monday, March 31, 2008, beginning at 4:00PM, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission (MCRC) will host a public forum on hate, free speech and higher education in the Cook-Dewitt Center on the Allendale campus of Grand Valley State University.  The campus is located at 1 Campus Drive, Allendale MI, 49401. 

During the public forum, the Commission will hear expert testimony and concerns from residents and students regarding the line between hate and free speech on a college campus.  Both the Commission and Department hope to use this opportunity to help higher education institutions to create some common understandings about what speech or actions are discriminatory, hate crimes, or part of the legitimate dialogue of a learning community. 

The public forum will follow a general meeting of the Commission scheduled for 3:00PM.  Both the meeting and public forum are open to the public with opportunities for public comment.  For more information on the Michigan Civil Rights Commission call 1-800-482-3604 or visit   http://www.michigan.gov/mdcr .