2026 Baxter Lecture
Brandon Sanchez Photography
2026 Baxter Lecture
Brandon Sanchez Photography
2026 Baxter Lecture
Brandon Sanchez Photography
2026 Baxter Lecture
Brandon Sanchez Photography
Free speech panel
Photo by Ella Yang
Independence Trivia Bowl
Photo by Ella Yang
Independence Trivia Bowl
Photo by Ella Yang
Independence Trivia Bowl
Photo by Ella Yang
Independence Trivia Bowl - May 2026
BLI kicked off Cal@250 with a trivia extravaganza commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and celebrating the end of the academic year. 16 teams and over 60 students competed for cash prizes and bragging rights. Chancellor Lyons even stopped by to play emcee and join students in the fun.
Can You Say That Here? Free Speech in a Global Context - April 14, 2026
BLI and the Institute of International Studies (IIS) hosted a panel on free speech in a global context on April 14. The panel was moderated by Molly Cram and included Sean Gailmard, Rebecca MacKinnon, and Eduardo Garcia.
The discussion included free speech in different contexts, the connection between democracy and free speech, and questions around who limits free speech, who gets to decide what is prohibited, and what counts as interference.
The mini fried chicken biscuit sandwiches were also a highlight.
A recording of the panel can be found on the IIS YouTube channel
2026 Baxter Lecture: AI, the Law & Free Speech - March 19, 2026
Eugene Volokh, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and professor at UCLA School of Law, gave a rousing lecture on the intersection of AI, free speech, and the law. The standing room only audience was filled with students, alumni, and community members who continued the conversation at a reception after the lecture.
We are thankful to this year’s co-sponsoring student organizations:
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Active Voicez
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The Berkeley Forum
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BridgeUSA at Berkeley
Dialogue Training for UC Staff & Faculty - February 26, 2026
UC Berkeley Faculty and Staff were invited to participate in an experiential workshop to learn communication skills to navigate differences as they arise inside and outside the classroom.
BLI Student Leader Summit - January 26, 2026
BLI hosted the first BLI Student Leader Summit to gather student leaders of clubs that focus on politics, policy, and advocacy. 16 students from 11 different student organizations attended from BridgeUSA, the Alexander Hamilton Society, the Berkeley Form, and members of the UC Berkeley Student’s Association.
Student leaders had a chance to connect with each other, talk about pain points they experience on campus, and discuss how BLI might support their work. It was inspiring to hear about the amazing work these student groups are doing across campus to create an open space for dialogue and think together about how BLI can continue to support their efforts.
Speaking Across Conflict Workshop - November 19, 2025
Current Berkeley undergraduate and graduate students were invited to participate in the workshop: Speaking Across Conflict, part of the BLI Difficult Conversation Series. The workshop was facilitated by Dorit Price-Levine, Campus Director of Mediation and Conflict Transformation and supported by Molly Cram, Executive Director of BLI. The workshop content was created by Resetting the Table.
The workshop offered communication skill-building for charged conversations and a forum for dialogue across disagreement. Participants exchanged views and personal experiences, surfaced differences and commonalities, and practiced communication skills for addressing differences directly and constructively.