Flying Dog Brewery CEO Jim Caruso
By Tim Silvia//
As part of an ongoing effort to promote and educate on free speech, Hood College played host to Jim Caruso, CEO of Flying Dog Brewery, and his speech “Free Speech for Me, But Not For Thee?” The speech outlined the history of free speech in America and the challenges that truly free speech brings.
As a private institution, Hood has no obligation to provide students free speech. Regardless, Free speech is something that Hood College president Andrea Chapdelaine holds in the upmost importance.
“For me it is a core of a liberal arts education; that what is most important to me is for students to experience and learn and grow from here,” Chapdelaine said. “The opportunity to use their own voice, use their own mind, use their own talents and interests to learn. So that right to free speech, as I think about it, is so critical to fulfilling our mission.”
The president and, subsequently, the college’s dedication to the promotion of free speech were the main driving forces behind inviting Caruso to speak. Additionally, Chapdelaine awarded Caruso with the President’s Medal for Democracy for his work education the public on the principles of the First Amendment.