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4th Conference of the Consortium of Higher Education Centers for Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Right Studies

October 14-16, 2024 | University of Alabama at Birmingham

Theme: Civil Discourse on Polarized Campuses: Human Rights, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies

Facilitating civil discourse in times of polarization is one of the key opportunities that university centers focusing on Holocaust, genocide, and human rights studies can offer. As center directors, we are often at the forefront of efforts to discuss controversial topics with high emotional potential. What are the roles and responsibilities of centers and institutes in facilitating civil discourse? How can education, both inside and outside the classroom, serve as a starting point for fact-based, open discussions? What are the challenges center directors face in polarizing and changing times? How can we secure funding and sustainable programming? Join us at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in October 2024 to discuss these topics, meet your colleagues, and build new connections and networks.

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About the Conference

The Consortium meets every second year to discuss relevant topics relating to teaching, researching, and public discussion of Holocaust, genocide, and human rights studies on university campuses and general issues facing center directors. Prior conferences were hosted at Manhattan College in New York, at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

This year’s conference will focus on “Civil Discourse on Polarized Campuses: Human Rights, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies.” The keynote speaker will be Catherine Coleman Flowers, environmental and climate justice activist bringing attention to the largely invisible problem of inadequate waste and water sanitation infrastructure in rural communities in the United States. Other topics will include the discussion of race and anti-racism in polarizing times, the rise of Antisemitism on college campuses, student activism and engagement, and considerations and challenges facing directors of human rights, genocide, and Holocaust studies centers. In addition, conference participants will be able to attend book talks, workshops, and open discussion sessions.

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About the Consortium

The Consortium of Higher Education Centers for Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies Consortium of Higher Education Centers for Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies (hereafter “Consortium”) is a nonprofit organization that endeavors to be the primary assembly and professional organization of center directors committed to securing, integrating, and advancing Holocaust, genocide, and human rights education on U.S. college campuses. We are a consortium of experts that leads in scholarly projects, educational innovation, and networking opportunities.

We offer our expertise and support to faculty, directors, administrators, and campus leaders seeking to strengthen existing centers, as well as develop new ones. We are a unique Consortium in that we believe in building upon the current tides of political and social concerns by incorporating our work and activism on our campuses in the service of students’ future and welfare.

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