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IOWA CITY — Among the questions a new University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom will tackle at its inaugural event Dec. 5-6 are “What is wrong with universities?” “How did we end up here?” and “Can universities be reformed?”

Those sweeping queries will headline three of seven panel discussions planned for the early-December event meant to debut the new UI free-thought hub — which lawmakers mandated last session with a bill requiring the University of Iowa create a new center charged with increasing diversity of thought and political balance on campus.

A 26-member advisory council for the center will convene virtually for the first time Tuesday to discuss the December event, bylaws go

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