Sam Abrams, a professor of politics at Sarah Lawrence College who is a scholar of American politics, will present a free, public lecture entitled “Viewpoint Diversity and a Liberal Arts Education” as the inaugural speaker of the Campus Politics and Civil Liberties 2019-20 Speaker Series on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. in Arches Lounge, Elaine Langone Center. The Bucknell Program for American Leadership and Citizenship is sponsoring the series, which features speakers from a diverse set of political backgrounds whose research and teaching interests, as well as personal experiences, led them to various kinds of critical perspectives about the climate for serious intellectual exchange on college campuses.

Abrams writes about the importance of civil discourse and viewpoint diversity to a liberal arts education. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Chronicle of Higher Education, and other outlets. He is the 2019 winner of Heterodox Academy’s Courage award.