More civility on campus 鈥� and perhaps beyond
Across the U.S., colleges and universities are recentering a core purpose of higher education: equipping young people with the civic skills of open inquiry, free speech, and mutual respect, all essential to a thriving democracy.
Student Adelis Ortis (center) in conversation with attendees at a December 2024 project presentation under the Dialogue, Inclusion, and Democracy Initiative at Providence College, Rhode Island. The initiative aims to improve skills in respectful communication with those holding differing viewpoints.
Alfredo Sosa/Staff/File
In many parts of the United States, the arrival of spring has been fleeting and fickle. But there鈥檚 no mistaking that college graduation season is here, with the strains of 鈥淧omp and Circumstance,鈥� turning of tassels, tossing of caps 鈥� and protests over choices of commencement speakers arising along lines that reflect the country鈥檚 political divides.
Rutgers, South Carolina State, and Utah Valley are among the universities that recently disinvited speakers after objections by campus activists. Others have forged ahead 鈥� as New York University did on Thursday, with the choice of one of its own: professor, author, and free speech advocate Jonathan Haidt. Student government leaders had objected to hearing from Dr. Haidt, known for his critiques of social media and diversity initiatives, as well as what he views as the 鈥渃oddling鈥� of young people from having to deal with the friction of differing worldviews.
Despite such protests and even walkouts, a countertrend is quietly taking hold. Increasingly, public and private colleges are establishing study programs and research centers to reduce campus polarization and address sensitivities around controversial topics.
On a deeper level, proponents say, these initiatives are about recentering a core purpose of higher education 鈥� the public good of training and equipping individuals for civic and civil engagement and the exercise of robust, democratic citizenship. According to one source, there are now more than 45 centers of civic education at institutions in 25 states.
Paul O. Carrese, the founding director of Arizona State University鈥檚 School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership (launched in 2016), sees his school鈥檚 role as 鈥渞estoring higher civics鈥� and upholding the 鈥減olitical-intellectual virtue of moderation 鈥� of avoiding extremes and single-mindedness.鈥� Johns Hopkins University President Ronald Daniels has argued that universities owe it to society and democracy to educate young people in 鈥渢he full suite of aptitudes necessary for good citizenship.鈥�
The University of North Carolina鈥檚 School of Civic Life and Leadership, which opened in 2023, has seen burgeoning student demand. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that nearly 1,000 are currently taking classes at the center, up from 85 in the fall of 2024.听
And earlier this month, Stanford University voted to expand and make permanent its pilot program COLLEGE (Civic, Liberal, and Global Education). Observing that students 鈥渁rrive with extraordinary academic preparation but very little practice sitting with discomfort and engaging respectfully across difference,鈥� a university administrator indicated the program provides the 鈥渓anguage, community, and tools鈥� to do so.
As the Monitor鈥檚 Stephen Humphries has reported, many universities 鈥渟ee civil discourse as foundational. ... It鈥檚 key to an ethos of free speech and open inquiry, rooted in mutual respect.鈥�
These same tenets resound well beyond academia in the daily practice of self-governance and democracy, from town halls to state legislatures. And, perhaps, in the nation鈥檚 capital.听