UAB Student Multicultural and Diversity Programs (SMDP) is proud to kick off the Fall 2017 Free Food for Thought Series (FFFT) with a four-part discussion about American education. This semester’s discussion, "The (Mis)Education System: Sex, Drugs and Racism in America's Schools," will explore how political and social agendas influence both educational content and access to educational resources.

The first session – Just Say No! – takes place Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017 at 6 p.m. in the New Freshman Residence Hall. It will pose the question, "What are schools really teaching us about sex and drugs?" Students are invited to come out, eat free food, dialogue and share their experiences.

SMDP’s FFFT aims to create a space for students, and sometimes community members, to share their thoughts and opinions about 'hot-button' topics, issues or events. Each semester a topic is chosen for discussion, with each session framed around that theme. FFFT encourages and promotes communities that value inclusion and social justice in hopes that interested participants will exchange viewpoints, as well as garner greater awareness about issues and experiences across social and personal identities. The ultimate goal is that learning from one another through facilitated and respectful discussion can help us value the contributions of peers.

Remaining Fall 2017 FFFT sessions include:

• Oct. 12 | Positive Discrimination? Affirmative action policies and who they truly benefit…
• Oct. 26 | Free to Hate? What role do universities play in the free speech debate?
• Nov. 9 |Unequal Opportunities. Is a good education in America a right or a privilege?

This event is free to all students. For more information and disability accommodations, contact 205-975-8673 or diversity@uab.edu.

For more details, visit http://www.uab.edu/students/diversity/education/free-food-for-thought.