Open Source Values and Advocacy: Panel Discussion
Channel: Apereo Foundation
Date: 2017-06-06

Presented by: David Ackerman - Chief Digital Officer and Associate VP, New York University ; Ian Dolphin - Apereo Foundation ; Laura Gekeler - University of Notre Dame ; Patrick Masson - General Manager & Director, Open Source Initiative ; Bryan Ollendyke - Pennsylvania State University

Openness aligns with the values of academia. Open access publishing, open data, open educational resources, open science and open source software have fast become part of the 'new normal' for many educational institutions. Despite this, many universities resist even consideration of open source software, and remain wedded to commercial-proprietary vendors with a fervor that borders on Stockholm syndrome. At the same time, the success of the open agenda has let to its attempted co-option by providers which apply the term 'open source' to describe a profoundly closed practice.

What are the values of openness, and why do they matter? What makes effective open advocacy? What lessons can we learn from outside academia? This session will begin to explore these issues, and draw on real-world examples that will empower participants to deepen their understanding of open values and enrich advocacy.