UW-Stevens Point civil discourse event examines presidential politics
11/16/2016
 

The recent presidential election will be the focus of a forum at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to promote civil discourse. 

The College of Letters and Science Civil Discourse Initiative will present "Civil Discourse and Presidential Politics" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29. Held in Room 221 of UW-Stevens Point's Noel Fine Arts Center, it is free and open to the public.

The discussion will include panelists Shanny Luft of the Philosophy Department, John Blakeman of the Political Science Department, Rebecca Stephens of the English Department, Rob Harper of the History and International Studies Department and Helena Alden of the Sociology and Social Work Department. College of Letters and Science Dean Christopher Cirmo and Assistant Dean Dona Warren will serve as moderators and facilitate audience participation.

According to Cirmo, the Civil Discourse Initiative seeks to provide the public the opportunity to examine, refine, endorse, practice and disseminate the principles that underlie civil conversations about controversial topics.

"The capacity to engage in fruitful and respectful dialog with those who disagree with us is essential to any cooperative effort, from the workplace all the way up to the highest levels of government," said Cirmo. "This is particularly important as we begin to address the political divide so clearly obvious in the most recent presidential election cycle."

"These are exactly the sort of skills and abilities that higher education should cultivate," he said. "The Civil Discourse Initiative will help UW-Stevens Point to more intentionally nurture these traits."

 

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