Inclusion Week: Care, Conflict, and (in)Civility in Academic Life

Faculty Affairs is delighted to welcome a special guest, Professor Alice MacLachlan, Vice-Provost & Dean, Graduate Studies to an online conversation series on (re)building academic spaces of care and inclusion.

In an era marked by political polarization, social fragmentation, and moral disagreements, how can individuals, communities, institutions including universities rebuild trust and move forward together? Professor MacLachlan’s scholarship offers valuable insights towards this urgent question.

Drawing on political philosophy and feminist ethics, Professor MacLachlan’s writings engage with the nature and limits of forgiveness, the power and complexity of public apologies, and the role that emotions such as resentment and indignation play in reconciliation and repair. Her work offers ideas for thinking through what practices and responsibilities are involved in restoring relationships in the aftermath of wrongdoing, injustice, and democratic strain.

Professor MacLachlan’s publications include “Apologizing for Evil” “Trust Me, I’m Sorry: The Paradox of Public Apology,” “Closet Doors and Stage Lights: On the Goods of Out,” and “Unreasonable Resentments.” She is also the co-editor of Justice, Responsibility, and Reconciliation in the Wake of Conflict. Her current research investigates the ethics and politics of (in)civility in contexts of disagreement—an especially timely and resonant topic for our academic communities today.

Our conversation with Professor MacLachlan aligns beautifully with the theme of CHREI’s Inclusion Week (March 2–6): Building Inclusive Spaces Through Community Support and Restoration.

We look forward to a rich conversation with Faculty and graduate students on how practices of apology, repair, and relational ethics can help cultivate more compassionate and inclusive academic spaces.

Click here to learn more and register.