DU's Day of Free Expression & Pluralism

Spark 2026 is on May 20


Join us for the fourth annual day of free expression at DU. 
Spark is DU's annual Day of Free Expression and Pluralism—a half-day event bringing together faculty, staff, students, and guests from across the Front Range to engage with some of the most pressing civic and intellectual challenges of our time.

Coffee, 9:30 a.m.
Opening remarks with Chancellor Haefner, 9:45 a.m.
Panel discussions (details below), 10 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Closing remarks, 3:45 p.m

Register Here

a group of students around a table working on a project

Spark Session 1: (Un)civil discourse: Religious & Ideological Pluralism

Panelist Discussion

Maglione Hall, Sie Complex, 10:00 am - 11:45 pm

Register

Moderator: Ashley Campbell, Visiting Teaching Professor, Department of Media, Film and Journalism Studies, University of Denver

Panelists:

  • Jennifer Ho, Director, Center for Humanities & the Arts, CU Boulder
  • Kate Holbrook, Chaplin, Colorado College
  • Liz Sperber, Associate Professor, Political Science, University of Denver
  • Martín Carcasson, Professor & Director, Center for Public Deliberation, Colorado State University
three people having a discussion outside

Spark Session 2: Collaborative Problem Solving: Viewpoint Diversity as a Civic and Workplace Skill

Panelist Discussion

Maglione Hall, Sie Complex, 12:00 pm - 1:45 pm

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Lunch will be available during this panel.

Moderator: Ty Nagamatsu, Ombuds, Colorado College

Panelists:

three people chatting outside on a lawn

Spark Session 3: Navigating Information: AI, Digital Media and Misinformation

Panelist Discussion

Maglione Hall, Sie Complex, 2:00 - 3:45 pm

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Moderator: Derigan Silver, Faculty Director of Freedom of Expression and Pluralism Initiatives, University of Denver

Panelists:

  • Lynn Clark, Professor & Director, Estlow Center for New Media, University of Denver
  • Bradley Petersen, PhD Student, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver
  • Scott Krzych, Professor, Film & Media Studies, Colorado College
  • Juli Parrish, Teaching Professor & Director, Writing Program, University of Denver