Campus Conversations Get Started Tuesday

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The University has launched a Campus Conversation series to allow for "one-to-one interaction" around topics on which students, faculty and staff may have divergent views, UA President Robert C. Robbins announced in a memo sent this week.

"Discussion of these topics through statements and letters cannot enable understanding in the same way that real one-to-one interaction can inform our views," Robbins wrote.

The first forum will be held Tuesday from 9-11 a.m. in the Student Union Memorial Center's Grand Ballroom.

"Events of the past several weeks have prompted debate over First Amendment rights, campus safety and the presence of Border Patrol on our campus," Robbins wrote. "This opening session of the Campus Conversation series will focus on listening – particularly listening to concerns of students, faculty and staff around these issues."

The conversation will be moderated by Nancy Montoya, a producer at Arizona Public Media and a longtime Southern Arizona journalist.

Robbins asked faculty who are teaching courses during Tuesday's forum to allow students to attend if possible. He also invited members of the campus community to suggest topics for future Campus Conversation forums.

Those with questions about the event, and those requiring special accommodations, are asked to call 520-626-4349.