Ex-Governor Branstad urges creation of UI School of Intellectual Freedom

Statewide, Iowa (RI) – Former Governor Terry Branstad is urging legislators to pass a bill that would establish a School of Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa.

Branstad was at the Capitol this past Tuesday to testify at a subcommittee hearing on the bill. M Denney, a recent University of Iowa graduate, testified against the bill.

The bill calls for hiring four political science professors for a School of Intellectual Freedom and creating a new, nine-member council to oversee the operation. A university spokesman told lawmakers a plan for a Center for Civil Dialogue and Leadership at the University of Iowa will be presented next month to the board that oversees the three state universities.

It would be similar to centers at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. The Board of Regents approved creation of UNI’s Center for Civic Education in September. In November, Iowa State University administrators announced a “Cyclone Civics” initiative.

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