Deliberative Citizenship Initiative

Building Democracy One Conversation at a Time

Announcements

DCI in the News: Notre Dame’s Good Work Series

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Good Work: examining institutions cover image.

By Sara Copic, DCI Assistant Director

Virtues and Vocations: Higher Education for Human Flourishing is a magazine of the Virtues and Vocations initiative at the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns. This year, the DCI was featured as part of the magazine’s Good Work series. To read the original article, click here: https://socialconcerns.nd.edu/virtues/newsletter-post/davidson-college-deliberative-citizenship-initiative/ 

The article does a nice job of summarizing the work of the DCI and its core mission programs. 

The DCI was founded in 2020 with the goal of combating unproductive, polarized political and social discourse by replacing it with deliberative citizenship. Dr. Graham Bullock, Associate Professor of Political Science and Faculty Director of the DCI at Davidson College, was one of the founding co-conveners of the DCI. In the Virtues and Vocations article, Dr. Bullock elaborates on the notion of citizenship that is at the heart of the DCI:

“Citizenship has become equated with what passport you hold, a kind of national identity, but this is not the only way to think about citizenship. We’ve tried to think about a broader sense of citizenship as the work that we do together to engage the problems we face in society.”

And he elaborates on what deliberation is:

“Deliberation is sort of an antidote to the very harsh, toxic public discourse that we experience in the mainstream and social media contexts – talking past each other, not really engaging with one another’s reasons, sometimes not even providing reasons for why we hold the positions we do. We see deliberation as a form of discourse that is in good faith, trying to understand one another and then come up with new ideas that might often transcend where we started from.”

The article goes on to explain the history of the DCI and its early events, which started at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than allowing COVID to block their progress, its leadership saw the pandemic as an opportunity to host virtual events that could draw not only a local and regional but also a national audience to the DCI. As a result, we have been able to host many kinds of deliberative discussions, both online and in-person. 

The DCI’s programming includes small-scale discussions between members of deliberative groups, or D Teams, and larger scale events like our speaker series and public forums. All of our deliberations are facilitated by the DCI Fellows, who are Davidson students trained in best practices for leading productive and meaningful deliberations between people from all walks of life and from many ideological backgrounds. 

As we look ahead to the coming academic year, we hope to see you at our speaker series and public forums, to meet you in one of our D Teams or during one of our deliberation facilitator training workshops. Become a member below to keep up with our activity, and follow us on your favorite social media site. 

The DCI Has a New Assistant Director!  

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The DCI welcomes Sara Copic as our new Assistant Director! Dr. Copic will be responsible for assisting with the development, implementation, and assessment of the DCI’s programs and operations. Dr. Copic’s experience at both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Notre Dame prepares her exceedingly well to help lead the DCI’s efforts to create opportunities for productive dialogue and deliberation in diverse classroom settings, outside of the classroom, and in the community.

Dr. Copic received her PhD in philosophy from UNC-Chapel Hill, where she recently served as Visiting Teaching Assistant Professor of Philosophy and taught courses in practical ethics, bioethics, the ethics of peace, war, and defense, language and communication, and more. In her research, Dr. Copic specializes in the philosophy of language. She writes about the relationship our ordinary discourse has to truth and social cooperation, and how these goals determine different types of linguistic meaning. Her teaching and research thus directly relate to some of the themes that the DCI engages with on a regular basis.

Dr. Copic has also worked as Design Project Manager in the Office of Digital Learning at the University of Notre Dame, where she led over 12 different digital education projects to successful completion, including the University’s digital resiliency initiative during the Covid-19 pandemic and projects on tech and innovation ethics, poverty, and interfaith dialogue. Dr. Copic’s experience leading complex education projects will be another asset to the DCI, where she will help design and implement programs in all of its focus areas.

In this work, Dr. Copic will apply lessons she has learned as a scholar-teacher who focuses on utilizing active learning strategies that foster an inclusive classroom environment and bridge achievement gaps between students from different backgrounds. In her teaching, she has also focused on helping students practice reflection and critical thinking not only on their own but also in community with one another.

In addition to her duties as the DCI’s Assistant Director, Sara looks forward to teaching a course at Davidson on the nature and significance of artificial intelligence in the College Writing Program in Spring 2024. Dr. Copic is an affiliate of the AI Project at UNC Chapel Hill and also writes about what lessons we can learn about meanings by studying large language models. AI is a hot topic ripe for deliberation, and Dr. Copic’s course will enable students to grapple with both its challenges and opportunities and connect with any programming the DCI organizes around this important issue. 

All to say, we are excited that Dr. Copic has joined the DCI’s leadership team! Watch out for blog posts and emails from Dr. Copic, and say hi to her if you see her on campus or in the community.

DeeP Collaborative Continues for a Third Year

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faculty discussion

The DCI invites all full-time faculty members to apply to participate in the third year of its Deliberative Pedagogy (DeeP) Collaborative. Applications to join the Collaborative are welcome from faculty in all departments who wish to enhance their ability to embed more deliberation about questions and issues involving important disagreements in their classes. The DCI is able to provide a stipend of $2000 for participants in the Collaborative this year. Applications are due June 26, 2023.

So far over 20 faculty members from Davidson and five other Associated Colleges of the South (ACS) institutions (Furman, Morehouse, Rollins, Southwestern, and Spelman) have participated in the Collaborative. Collaborative members spend an academic year learning about and discussing deliberative pedagogy theory and techniques, embedding them into their own course plans and syllabi, and then actually teaching courses that are infused with deliberation in a multitude of ways. They have come from a wide range of social science, humanities, and natural science disciplines, including archaeology/classics, chemistry, communications, economics, environmental studies, gender and sexuality studies, history, philosophy, physics, political science, public health, and more.

Check out the comments from some of the Collaborative’s members below:

  • Luis Gonzalez-Barrios (World Languages and Cultures, Spelman College): “The planning process of the course was very interesting, since it not only made me think about the new DeeP materials, but also about the way of organizing the sessions, the periodization of the modules, and of course the forms of evaluation. I mean, it made me rethink my entire pedagogical approach…Experiential learning and democratic deliberation seem to me necessary pedagogical approaches in times of constant “noise” and polarization.”
  • Rachel Pang (Religious Studies, Davidson College): “One of the best things about participating in the DeeP Collaborative was the chance to engage with a group of experienced and creative pedagogues at Davidson and other ACS institutions.”
  • Caleb Stroup (Economics, Davidson College): “Overall, I think students benefited greatly from structured deliberation aimed at developing their abilities to reach collective agreement about competing values embedded in scientific research conclusions.”
  • Emily Sydnor (Political Science, Southwestern University): “Overall, I found the deliberative discussions and affiliated assignments achieved my course goals and were interesting and engaging for both me and the students. In their reflections on deliberation, several participants commented that in spite of their initial anxiety about talking politics with their peers, they had found the discussions to be a positive experience.” 

You can read more about faculty reflections on their experiences as members of the Collaborative in their blog posts that are posted on the DCI Blog and listed below:

Blog posts from our 2022-23 Collaborative members were recently submitted and will be published soon (you can sign-up for updates on the DCI’s website). More on the background, goals, and expectations of the Collaborative is provided in the attached invitation and on the DCI’s “Deliberation Across the Curriculum” webpage. 

This year’s cohort will include faculty from both Davidson and other institutions of higher education – if you know someone who might be interested, encourage them to apply – all faculty are welcome! If you have any questions about the Collaborative, please reach out to the DCI’s Faculty Director, Graham Bullock (grbullock@davidson.edu), or any of the Collaborative’s faculty members.

DeeP-Collaborative-Poster

Spring 2023 D Teams are Here! Register Today!

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D-Teams-Poster_Spring-2023

Following our successful fall deliberations about elections, this spring the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative (DCI) is hosting two tracks of discussions on important issues facing our society. The first single-topic track will take a deep dive on pressing issues relating to climate change, while the second multi-topic track will explore questions related to three key policy areas – climate change, immigration, and college admission policies. These were the highest priority issues identified in surveys of previous D Team members and discussions among the DCI Fellows and Co-Conveners. When registering, you will be able to indicate which is your preference (if you have one).

Climate Change (Single-Topic Track)

The last year witnessed record temperatures in North America, Europe and elsewhere, as well as record floods around the world, including in Kentucky, Pakistan, and Australia. Large majorities of scientists, policymakers, business leaders, and citizens now generally agree that climate change is occurring, but often differ on particular strategies to pursue and who should be responsible for implementing them. Over the course of three sessions, participants in this D Team track will take a deep dive into the topic of climate change, tackling three key questions:

  1. Climate Choices (Part I): What climate strategies, if any, should we pursue? Should we focus more on reducing carbon emissions, protecting communities from the impacts of climate change, or accelerating the development of innovations that can make it easier to do both?
  2. Climate Responsibilities (Part II): Who, if anyone, should be responsible for paying for these strategies? Should everyone pay an equal share, should polluters pay more, or should those with greater capacity pay more?
  3. Climate Responsibilities (Part III): Who, if anyone, should be responsible for implementing these strategies? Should governments, businesses, or consumers take the greatest responsibility for taking action on climate change?

    Immigration, College Admission Policies, and Climate Change (Multi-Topic Track)

    The DCI’s second track will also discuss our climate choices along with two other topics – immigration and college admissions policies.

    1. Immigration Choices: In 2022, there were a record number of migrant border crossing into the United States. Who should we welcome? What should we do? Should we welcome all immigrants and be a beacon for freedom, enforce the law and be fair to those who follow the rules, or slow down and re-build our common bonds? 
    2. College Admission Choices: In 2023, the Supreme Court will rule on two highly consequential cases related to the use of race in college admissions. How should applicants’ backgrounds be taken into account, if at all? To what extent should race, athletic performance, legacy status, gender, socio-economic status, and/or merit be used in the admission process?
    3. Climate Choices: What climate strategies, if any, should we pursue? Should we focus more on reducing carbon emissions, protecting communities from the impacts of climate change, or accelerating the development of innovations that can make it easier to do both?

      Registration

      Spring 2023 D Team Registration — CLICK HERE

      • To register for a spring D Team, click on the link above. The registration deadline is Monday, January 23rd.
      • You can choose from several dates and times. Please have your calendar ready and updated when you register and indicate all time slots that you will be available.
      • In consideration of others in your group, you are expected to attend all three sessions.
      • Group assignments, along with the date, time and the DCI Fellow leading your D Team will be emailed to you by Monday, January 30th.
      • We encourage you to invite someone who has different perspectives on the issues than you to join a D Team as well. Please this information with a colleague, friend, neighbor, or family member who you think might be interested. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join!

      Dates

      • Registration deadline – Monday, January 23
      • D Team Assignments sent to participants – Monday, January 30
      • D Team Session 1 – Week of Monday, February 20th
      • D Team Session 2 – Week of Monday, March 20th
      • D Team Session 3 – Week of Monday, April 10th

      More Information

      See below for some comments from recent D Team participants (over 160 people participated on 19 different teams this past fall):

      “My D Team experience allowed me to have rich discussions with a mix of students, staff, and alumni. I particularly enjoyed the diversity in our ages and backgrounds. The written guides and our facilitator helped me feel prepared to participate in topics I had little experience in discussing, especially outside of my own friend group.”

      “The DCI experience is one of the rare opportunities in these contentious times that cross-generational and cross-political perspectives can be shared and engaged within a respectful discussion.”

      Click here to learn more and watch a short video about the D Team experience. You can also find out about the difference between SkillBuilder and BridgeBuilder Teams and read more testimonials from past participants.

      Fall 2022 D Teams

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      Flyer for Fall D Team signup.

      Concerns surrounding elections have heightened in recent years as Americans worry about voter fraud and voter suppression, election security and election accessibility, and the fairness and inclusivity of the American electoral system. Various states have enacted stricter voting laws while other have attempted to expand access to the ballot box. As election season proceeded in the fall of 2022, the DCI’s D Teams focused on the issues, pressing challenges, and possible solutions related to voting and elections in America.

      D Teams Poster Fall 22

      Over three sessions, these D Teams deliberated about how we can make voting more accessible, more secure, and more fair. The first session focused on whether we should make voting more accessible through early voting, voting by mail, an increased number of polling places, and more. The second D Team meeting examined election security and whether we should reduce concerns about voter fraud through poll watching, use of better technology, voter ID laws, and other strategies. The third and final session addressed whether we should improve our elections by implementing reforms such as ranked choice voting, proportional representation, and the abolition of the electoral college.

      Over 160 people participated in 19 D Teams to discuss these topics. They met for two hours every couple of weeks either in person or online. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with over 96% reporting that they were satisfied or highly satisfied with their D Team experience.

      Fall 2022 D Team Testimonials

      Below are testimonials from some of the participants and some snapshots from some of our in-person D Team meetings:

      “I thoroughly enjoyed all the discussions in my D Team meetings. Despite participants from both sides of the political divide, it was refreshing to realize that we still have much in common. [Our facilitator] did a good job of pulling everyone in and keeping the discussions (or even disagreements friendly). The country would benefit from more such conversations.” Fall 2022 D Team Participant

      “I thoroughly enjoyed the three sessions and talking with the other participants. Our moderator did a great job of keeping us on schedule when that was needed and allowing us to take more time on a topic where we had a good discussion going.” Rick Whitener ’73

      “I had such a positive D Team experience. I really wasn’t sure what to expect and it absolutely exceeded my expectations. Our team had such interesting, thoughtful conversations that typically resulted in many of us saying, “You know, I realize I don’t know a lot about x” and going to do some additional research. It really helped me to see how much I don’t know about a lot of these topics, and even within a group of people who (I think) have fairly similar political leanings, there was a lot of diversity in our perspectives and priorities. We left our last session saying we’ll never look at elections in quite the same way again, because our conversations helped us to consider things we’d previously taken for granted (e.g., who in your state gets to vote, how do they get to vote, when can they vote?) – I feel a lot more informed and able to speak more confidently to both sides of the issues we discussed. Thanks so much for a fantastic opportunity! Fall 2022 D Team Participant

      “My experience on the D Team was rich and rewarding. The student facilitator was informed and engaged, encouraging each participant to share his or her voice in the discussion while also asking thoughtful questions and helping us reach meaningful insights. I look forward to the next opportunity to be involved in a D Team gathering.” Natalie Akin ‘05

      “I appreciated the DCI framework as it gave me a chance to discuss issues without as much polarizing language as public discourse seems to have currently. I was encouraged that while all may not have attributed issues to the same cause, all were open to common solutions to the problems.” Fall 2022 D Team Participant

      “Engaging in the DCI helped me step out of my localized bubble of friends and colleagues. Sharing time and ideas with people who all cared about Davidson, an institution that means a lot to me, was not only enjoyable, but it was rewarding. I’ll be back for more D Teams in the future! Stephen Powell

      “The D Team meeting proved to be a redemptive experience for me. When I was a student at Davidson in the 90s, I felt like such a political outlier. Politically active conservative students were frequently dismissive and rude towards my more liberal beliefs, which is not unexpected, but sometimes they crossed the line into anonymous threats, which made it difficult to feel like I was a valued part of a robust learning environment. Instead, I felt very much like an unwelcome outsider, an interloper into their cozy boys club.

      The conservative administrative leadership in the 90s didn’t help. It was patronizing and condescending to those of us trying to move the needle toward making Davidson a more inclusive environment. Thank goodness for the excellent professors and staff, particularly in the Campus Ministry and the College Union, who pushed against that administrative perspective. They are the adults who made me feel like I could belong in such a different place. They were the ones who held space for the square pegs who didn’t want to shave off our edges to fit in the conservative round holes.

      To have an opportunity to engage politically with a multi-generational group of students and alumni on the D Team, to feel heard and valued by those people, helped me contextualize those college years. Hearing that it is now conservative students who experience the discomfort that I felt back then also helped me build empathy. I have more confidence that Davidson can continue to move forward in building a community in which multiple contradicting political beliefs can be challenged without challenging the essential humanity of the individuals holding them.” Fall 2022 D Team Participant

      “It is so important that we learn to talk in meaningful ways about tough issues.  D Team allowed me to experience this in a safe, structured environment. Our D Team discussions have given me the confidence to expand my conversations about election related topics with all my friends and family.  That was so rewarding to me personally. I hope these continue and become a permanent part of what Davidson can give back to the community.” Kim McLendon

      “My D Team experience allowed me to have rich discussions with a mix of students, staff, and alumni. I particularly enjoyed the diversity in our ages and backgrounds. The written guides and our facilitator helped me feel prepared to participate in topics I had little experience in discussing, especially outside of my own friend group.” Amy, Davidson Staff Member

      “Outstanding opportunity. I learned much from the readings and even more from fellow participants. Respectful, open discussion. I reconsidered my view and perspective. I highly recommend others join.

      These were refreshing and nourishing conversations. I enjoyed hearing other people’s perspectives on issues I care very deeply about. The structure of the sessions led to good solid conversations.” Tom Moore

      “The DCI experience was exactly what I had envisioned — it was a chance to ‘practice’ being less judgmental, active listening, and expressing my views in a constructive way. Thank you to the students who both facilitated the conversations and who participated in the meetings — your presence really added to the experience. Lisa McNeilly ’86

      “I highly recommend joining a D team to help build appreciation for how diverse people’s views are and what it would take to build consensus with any proposed change.” Fall 2022 D Team Participant

      “This was a very engaging and insightful experience. I enjoyed interacting with persons of diverse opinions and locales. It is good not to be in an echochamber.” Fall 2022 D Team Participant

      “Our discussions were informative, stimulating and led me to think more thoroughly about the issues.” Fall 2022 D Team Participant

      “The DCI experience is one of the rare opportunities in these contentious times that cross-generational, and cross-political perspectives can be shared and engaged within a respectful discussion.” Fall 2022 D Team Participant

      “Not only did I learn more about the discussion topics, but I feel much more confident engaging with others having different perspectives, hopefully resulting in mutually respectful learning and sharing and sharing of ideas.” Fall 2022 D Team Participant

      “This D Team experience was amazing.  The participants spanned ages from 18 – 80.  The team included equal numbers of women and men.  The group included US born, an immigrant, and one from a foreign country.  In included on person for whom this was the first contact with Davidson. Consequently, there was a broad range of experience with the subject matter, as well as a fairly wide continuum of opinion about the voting practices.  Our DCI leader was able to glide us through our discussion in a seamless way. She introduced each section with ease and had a natural way of including members of the group which was very inviting. When there was a clustering of opinion, she would often introduce other perspectives to assure that we were thoroughly considering points of view that were not present in our discussion. After the three sessions I came to realize that I knew less about the subject than I thought I knew when I joined the group. As a result of the background reading, I feel that I have learned a great deal about elections and voting. Now, I feel a need to read and learn more in this subject matter.” Fall 2022 D Team Participant

      “The Deliberate Citizenship Initiative has been a very positive experience for me– exactly the kind of thing a college like Davidson should be doing. Learning across generations, out of our normal comfort zones, in many senses student-led, timely and relevant topics — all in all a worthy effort.  I am grateful for the opportunity to participate and encourage others to as well.” Fall 2022 D Team Participant

      “I signed up to participate in a D Team experience hoping to gain skills that would help me feel more equipped to engage in dialog across political difference, and I was not disappointed. The structure and content of the discussions were great – as was the opportunity to be in conversation with a humble and inquisitive group.” Erica Caloiero

      “My D Team experience was awesome! Turns out I really didn’t know much about election processes and nuances, but what a great opportunity this was to learn more. The discussions were interesting, engaging, respectful, and ably led by a great student facilitator.” Fall 2022 D Team Participant