Please be sure to mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 27, when the 2023 Critical
Issues Symposium will be held. This year’s theme is Discerning Truth in a World of
Uncertainty, and will feature keynote speaker Dr. Justin McBrayer, professor of philosophy at
Fort Lewis College. The keynote address will be at 10 a.m. in the DeVos Fieldhouse. Dr.
McBrayer is the author of Beyond Fake News: Finding Truth in a World of Disinformation.
Daytime classes are canceled to allow students, faculty and staff full opportunity to attend the
keynote address and take part in afternoon breakout sessions.

The Student Congress has worked hard to assemble a program on a topical and important subject
that should be of interest to all on campus. We strongly encourage faculty to consider ways in
which you can integrate the keynote lecture and/or one or more of the breakout sessions into
your courses and syllabi. The program is as follows:

10 a.m. Keynote Lecture by Dr. Justin McBrayer: “Discerning Truth in a World of Uncertainty”
DeVos Fieldhouse

Each of the college’s academic divisions will hold an afternoon breakout session.
There will be two presentations from 1-2:30 p..m.
● Jazz Professor and drummer Robert Shipley will present on “Music: The Universal
Language,” in Friend-Hemenway Auditorium, Martha Miller Center.
● Dr. Jared Ortiz (Religion) will speak on “The Truth Will Set YOu Free: Christ, Creeds
and Commitment in a Confused Age.” Winants Auditorium, Graves Hall.

There will be two presentations from 3-4:30 p.m.
● Drs. Pamela Koch (Sociology) and David Ryden (Political Science) will have a
conversation on “Critical Race Theory: From Arcane Academic Theory to Political
Lightning Rod.” Winants Auditorium, Graves Hall.
● Drs. Jeffrey Christians (Engineering) and Joshua Bowman (2022 VAP in political
science; director of All Saints Anglican Church, Holland) will explore “Climate Change
and the Search for Truth.” Schaap Auditorium, Bultman Student Center.

The day will end with a reception from 4:30-6 p.m. in the Campus Living Room of the Bultman
Student Center. All are encouraged to attend.