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Beyond a Chilling Effect: Direct Action for Academic Freedom

a Faculty First Responders Workshop
sponsored by POROI, Iowa’s Project on Rhetoric of Inquiry
At a time when academics are finding their work hyper-surveilled, banned from funding, or even scrubbed by AI, how can we vibrantly sustain our research, writing, and creative practice?
In this Faculty First Responders workshop, participants will learn concrete steps to support freedom of inquiry for themselves and others. Topics include digital security measures, reducing risk of extremist attacks, and bolstering colleagues who may experience targeted harassment. Finally, we will convene a conversation across fields about pursuing the work we care about under intensified duress.
With the support of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Faculty First Responders has been providing education about academic freedom and its defense since 2020.
Heather Steffen is the Assistant Director of Faculty First Responders and a core faculty member in the MA Program in Engaged and Public Humanities at Georgetown University.
This event is for faculty members. Registration by Wednesday, April 2, is required.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact in advance at