Defending Democracy
2023-25 Theme of Inquiry
During this theme, we explored the crisis of democracy in the United States by reckoning with problems and considering solutions.
Events
Please check back in late summer 2025 for information about the Center's 2025-26 events and our upcoming theme of inquiry.
Videos of recent events
Peter DeFazio Annual Lecture: What Does It Mean to Defend Democracy Now? with E.J. Dionne
Can Non Profit Organizations do Political and Policy Advocacy? Featuring Mark Sidel
Finding Hope in Dark Times For Democracy, with Frances Moore Lappé
View more videos on our YouTube channel
The inaugural Rep. Peter DeFazio Annual Lecture was a major success, as the evening of April 10, 2025, saw more than 400 members of the University of Oregon and Eugene communities converge at the William W. Knight Law Center to hear award-winning journalist E.J. Dionne, Jr. speak.
Oregon Law 3L Clark Barlowe came to University of Oregon with an interest in American Indian Law, and thanks to a Wayne Morse Law Fellowship, he spent the summer getting real-world experience in the field with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon.
Eugene Friends of Farm Workers received a Wayne Morse Center Project grant to promote and host two events at the Lane County Fairgrounds on October 10, 2024.
