By John Elliot Harpham College campuses have historically been a place where young people can sharpen their civic skills and flex their rights – a safe and constructive space for students to prepare for full participation in American democracy. But today, the climate has shifted. Self-expression and collaboration across differences are lagging. There seems to…
Tag: disagreement
The Need for Civic Engagement Education
By John Elliot Harpham Denison’s mission statement puts the ability to morally discern, to autonomously think, and to participate in democratic society above all else as the goals of the college. These are honorable goals, and they paint a wonderful picture of what liberal arts values are all about. Yet, as I look around at…
Breaking the Silence: Why Denisonians Hesitate to Debate
By Maya Schaefer [Photo courtesy of Chambered Nautilus, 2016] One of the first things I remember hearing as a freshman in the fall of 2021 was President Weinberg’s advice to students. One part stood out to me and arguably most of the people I’ve interacted with since then: he encouraged students to get coffee or…