Oklahoma Christian University’s Communication Program will host a free panel discussion on free speech in social media Nov. 9

Edmond, Oklahoma -- Oklahoma Christian University’s Communication Program seeks to engage students and the community in complex dialogue about controversial topics like free speech and social media. To help guide this discussion, they will host a panel discussion on censorship in social media with professors and textbook authors Jeremy Lipschultz and Philip Patterson and politicians Bryan Hughes, a Texas state senator, and Kevin West, and Oklahoma state representative.  

The “Can I Say That?” panel discussion will be Nov. 9 from 1:30-2 p.m. in Judd Theater on the OC campus. The hybrid event will feature both in-person and virtual panelists attending via Zoom. 

Lipschultz is a distinguished professor of communication at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and author of the book “Social Media Law and Ethics.” He has taught at the University of Nebraska for over 30 years, having written two other books on the topic of social media management. 

Hughes authored the Texas House Bill 20 this year, which prevents social media companies from banning Texans over posted political viewpoints. Prior to serving as Texas Senator, he owned his own law firm. 

Patterson is a distinguished OC professor of communication and author of the book “Media Ethics: Issues and Cases.” He has taught at OC for 40 years. He teaches media law and ethics classes at OC.

West represents Oklahoma’s 54 District and proposed a bill similar to Hughes’ in Oklahoma this year. While serving as an Oklahoma Representative, he has been the manager of Precision Casework for over 14 years. 

Josh Watson, associate professor of communication at OC and organizer of the event, praised the speakers for graciously agreeing to speak to OC students, and he is confident they will do a great job helping students understand the complexities of censorship in social media. 

"At OC, we try to be a home for complex dialogue, and the topic of censorship in social media is sticky,” Watson said. “We are so grateful to the speakers for agreeing to help our students be more informed on this controversial topic. The OC Communication Program is not seeking to tell anyone how to think about censorship in social media. We are challenging students to think about the multiple perspectives that exist on this topic.”

Brian Simmons, chair of the Communication Program at OC, believes a panel discussion is a unique and educational opportunity for students and the public alike. 

“I think an event like this is highly valuable,” he said. “It gets our campus community thinking about what is and what isn’t appropriate when it comes to communicating via social media.”

For more information on the event, visit www.canisaythat.org. For any questions or comments, please contact Josh Watson at joshua.watson@oc.edu or 405-425-5527.