Free Speech 101: The Utah Valley Uproar Over Michael Moore In September 2004, just weeks before the already hostile national elections were to be held, the student government at Utah Valley State College decided to bring controversial documentary filmmaker Michael Moore to campus. The result: a firestorm of controversy, activity, and heated debate the likes of which Utah County hadn’t seen in years. The story eventually made headlines in Time magazine, the Washington Post, and the Chronicle of Higher Education, among numerous other publications, and was declared one of Utah’s Top Five Stories of the Year. Joseph Vogel, the former student body vice president primarily responsible for the decision to invite Moore, and author of the recently published book, Free Speech 101, will speak of this experience and what it revealed about such significant issues as culture and religion, diversity and tolerance, faith and fear.

Joseph Vogel