Calling Out vs. Calling In: Loretta Ross Offers a Different Response to Campus Cancel Culture

College campuses are central in the battle over “cancel culture,” with a frequent weapon being the practice of “calling out” those who are judged to have said or done something wrong. The result is often conflict and misunderstanding rather than dialogue and mutual comprehension.

Loretta Ross, a visiting professor at Smith College, has become known for her courses that promote students “calling in” rather than “calling out.”

Ross, a self-described “Black radical feminist,” told The New York Times, “I think you can understand how calling out is toxic. It really does alienate people, and makes them fearful of speaking up.”

A signer of last year’s famous letter in Harper’s Magazine against cancel culture, Ross will speak to the Fordham community in a virtual workshop, providing students and others a chance to engage with her via Zoom.

The talk and workshop will be moderated by Julie Gafney, executive director of Fordham’s Center for Community Engaged Learning.