WMU We Talk

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Fostering a campus culture of responsible & respectful civic, social, political & policy engagement.

07/21/2026

We hope you can join us next week on Wednesday, July 22 to get a TASTE of what OLLI is, meet the incredible people that keep this community active, and hear about upcoming courses, trips, events, and volunteer opportunities!

This half-day event takes place in the Fetzer Center on WMU's campus. Doors open at 8am, the program begins at 8:45am, and will conclude at 1pm.

This is also a great opportunity to renew your annual membership, or start a new membership, at our discounted Early Bird rate of $40!

We hope you can join us as able, and please share this opportunity with any loved ones that might be interested in learning more!

https://eup-register.wmich.edu/wmich-olli/course/course.aspx?catId=17

03/30/2026

On April 7, Western Michigan University will host Irshad Manji, Dr. Laura Dinehart, Von Washington Jr., and Julian Jones to announce the launch of the nation’s first NCAA Division I Moral Courage Mentorship program. 🌟

From 3–5 p.m. at Heritage Hall, we are inviting students, neighbors, and partners to explore how the Moral Courage Method helps Broncos build better conversations and stronger connections across differences.

With free parking and free registration 🎟️, this kickoff is more than an event, it is a community moment, bringing students, partners, and neighbors into the work of building a stronger, more united Kalamazoo. We hope to see you there!

Register to attend here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/moral-courage-in-kalamazoo-kick-off-event-tickets-1985742126154

03/25/2026

Today is WMU Giving Day! 🐎

At We Talk, our mission is to foster a culture of responsible and respectful civic engagement. In a world that often feels divided, we provide the space for students and the community to practice constructive disagreement, value viewpoint diversity, and embrace open inquiry.

Your support today helps us continue hosting world-class speakers, workshops, and dialogues that teach the essential skill of talking to each other, rather than at each other.

Join us in promoting civil discourse at Western Michigan University. Every gift—no matter the size—makes an impact!

Give now: https://www.givecampus.com/s/3l7dss

Learn more about our work: https://wmich.edu/wetalk

02/23/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us last Thursday for our We Talk conversation on International Education: Balancing Collaboration with National Security 🌍. Your engagement made the discussion even stronger.

Huge thank you to our guests from D.C., Theresa Cardinal Brown and John Sava, and to Andy Richards, COO of Duncan Aviation, for sharing their insight.
Thank you to Dr. Reetha Raveendran, Dean of Students, for moderating Panel I, and to Dr. Max and the Haenicke Institute for Global Education for cosponsoring this important event.

We’re excited to keep these conversations going. Our next We Talk event is on Giving Day, March 25 🎉 Stay tuned for details!

02/19/2026

John Sava will be on campus at 5 pm today to talk about national security risks related to international education: Joint Institutes/Divided Loyalties—National Security Risks and Policy Overview. This article he co-authored is being released today and will be featured on Bloomberg News at 10:30 this morning.

Today's event is open to the public free of charge. Learn more:

https://wmich.edu/wetalk/upcoming-events

02/06/2026

On Thursday, February. 19 3:00 to 6:30PM, we are hosting a in-depth two-panel We Talk discussion on the impact of International Education: Balancing Collaboration and Innovation with National Security. For more than a century, international students have strengthen WMU classrooms, culture, and research. Yet, shifting immigration policies and new barriers make it challenging for higher education institute to recruit and retain global talent.

Our speakers will dive into big questions:
• How can the U.S. continue building strong academic partnerships to attract global talent and ideas?
•How can the U.S. protect its national security interests while supporting international education?

🗓️Mark your calendars and join us for an afternoon of insight, open dialogue, and shared learning. Click the link in our bio to register!

03/11/2024

Grab a FREE copy of the Wall Street Journal article, "She Talked Like a Millionaire, Slept in A Parking Garage and Fooled Nearly Everyone"!

Our Thursday's event will be based on this article. RSVP the event at our bio!

09/29/2023

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to host Joe Cohn, Legislative and Policy Director, and Lindsie Rank, Student Press Counsel from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. They led several panel discussions with our General Counsel, Keith Hahn, and student leaders across the campus. We had a fruitful discussion on how we at WMU can improve our policies to promote a culture of free speech and how student media plays a vital role in free speech.

Key takeaways:

1. Consistency Matters: Free speech must be consistent – it either protects everyone or no one.

2. Embrace Discomfort: Don't shy away from discomfort when expressing yourself

3. Practice Free Speech: It's a skill that improves with practice, even though it's challenging.

4. Listening is Vital: While free speech is important, listening and engaging with others is equally crucial for meaningful dialogue.

We have a lot of work to do as a campus community, but we're up for the challenge! Thank you to those who attended our events and engaged with us!

09/19/2023

Feeling silenced on campus?

We Talk is hosting the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression () next Wednesday (9/27) to promote free speech protections.

Joe Cohn, FIRE Legislative and Policy Director and Lindsie Rank, FIRE Student Press Counsel will be leading three engagement sessions with us.

RSVP

09/17/2023

‼️Happy Constitution Day‼️

Last Wednesday, Dr. Lauren Foley gave a lecture on her new book - "On the Basis of Race," where she shared how universities persist in their commitments to racial diversity while complying with bans on affirmative action.

Thank you to those who showed up and engage with us.

Address

Kalamazoo, MI
49008

Website

http://www.wmich.edu/wetalk, https://linktr.ee/WeTalkWMU

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