FIRE in the Library

Andrew from the ACLU club introduces Nico Perrino

On Monday, February 26, the ACLU club brought a speaker in to the library named Nico Perrino from the organization FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) to speak about free speech and the first amendment. Mr. Perrino spoke about issues currently affecting college campuses such as speech codes, free speech zones, and protected speech, but he also answered students' questions about the application of free speech at private schools like Dwight-Englewood. He spoke about the importance of dialogue, particularly for people with opposing viewpoints and declared that "ideas are like muscles - if they are not exercised, you don't always know why you're holding them." 

Nico speaks to the audience about free speech on campus

This library lunchtime talk followed relevantly after an upper school assembly a few weeks ago on deliberative discourse and viewpoint diversity. 


Students or faculty interested in hosting an event in the library in the future should reach out to either Mrs. Shaurette or Mr. Petkus with your ideas.