Discussion of Moral Systems to Kick Off UT’s Fall 2015 Honors Symposia Series

Why and how do moral “absolutes” keep changing? How is it that slavery was eventually outlawed, that the prohibition of alcoholic beverages was overturned or that rock music, once detested by older generations, has now become mainstream?

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, University of Tampa Associate Professor of Sociology Bruce Friesen will discuss this type of moral change as well as the evolution of human rights as the world’s first global moral system, ideas he explores in his new book, Moral Systems and the Evolution of Human Rights (Springer 2015).

The presentation, which kicks off the University’s Honors Program symposia series, will begin at 7 p.m. in the Trustees’ Room on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center.

Throughout the series, resident scholars and researchers at the University will present in their areas of specialization. Guest speakers in the series include Eric Hayot, distinguished professor of comparative literature and Asian studies at Penn State University, and David Hawk, past executive director of Amnesty International.

All lectures are free, open to the public and held on the UT campus. See below for a full schedule:

Tuesday, Sept. 8: “Moral Systems and the Evolution of Human Rights,” Bruce Friesen, associate professor of sociology, Vaughn Center, Ninth Floor, Trustees’ Room, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 15: “The Ultimate Censorship: Killing the Poet Garcia Lorca,” Gary Luter, professor of speech, theatre and dance, MacDonald-Kelce Library, AV Room 2, 5 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 18: “On Literary Worlds,” Eric Hayot, distinguished professor of comparative literature and Asian studies at Penn State University, Vaughn Center, Ninth Floor, Crescent Club, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 22: Daniel Dooghan, assistant professor of English, “Korea Beyond the Headlines,” MacDonald-Kelce Library, AV Room 2, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 29: Christopher Boulton, assistant professor of communication, with honors students Eric Post ’16 and Eric Langhoff ’15, “Grand Debut,” Reeves Theater, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6: Christine Harrington, assistant professor of finance, and Walter Smith, associate professor of accounting, “Fast Money and Loose Credit: The Rise and Fall of Homebuilders,” MacDonald-Kelce Library, AV Room 2, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 13: Honors student presenters from the Southern Regional and Florida Collegiate Honors Council Conferences, “Presenting Your Undergraduate Research,” MacDonald-Kelce Library, AV Room 2, 7 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 19: Joseph Wisinski, adjunct professor of communication, “Mass Media Ethics: Maximizing Value and Minimizing Harm,” MacDonald-Kelce Library, AV Room 2, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 22: David Hawk, past executive director of Amnesty International, “When the United Nations Works to Promote and Protect Human Rights,” Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 27: Kacy Tillman, associate professor of English, with honors students from LITH277, “The F Word — American Feminism,” Vaughn Center, Ninth Floor, Trustee’s Room, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 4: Mary Martinasek, assistant professor of public health, health sciences and human performance, “Vaping: Will Curiosity Kill the Cat?” Reeves Theater, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 10: Tony LaRose, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice, with honors student Maya Burtin ’17, “CSI in Black and White: Does Race and Television Viewing Influence Attitudes and Understandings about Forensic Evidence,” Reeves Theater, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 19: J.E. Sumerau, assistant professor of sociology, “Contemporary Religion and the Cisgendering of Reality,” Reeves Theater, noon
Wednesday, Dec. 2: Live Coleman, associate professor of government and world affairs, “Will Japan ‘Lean In’ to Gender Equality?” MacDonald-Kelce Library, AV Room 2, 4 p.m.

Please note that dates and locations are subject to change. For more information, contact the Honors Program at (813) 257-3545 or honors@ut.edu.