The Deliberative Citizenship Initiative and Davidson College Writing Program sponsored a public lecture, Democracy and Freedom of Expression: Revitalizing Public Discourse on Campus and Beyond, featuring Leila Brammer, Director of the Parrhesia Program for Public Discourse at the University of Chicago on March 22, 2022.
In her remarks, Dr. Brammer addressed how freedom of expression in academic and civic environments recognizes the centrality of multiple perspectives, differences, and disagreements to test and develop the best thinking to address collective challenges. Public discourse today is often critiqued for divisiveness that fails to reflect these foundational practices and leaves many unwilling to enter into essential conversations that should animate a healthy democracy. Dr. Brammer explored how the lens of discourse theory exposes the limits of our current modes of discourse and suggested important ways to reimagine and transform how we engage with one another on campuses and in our communities.
This lecture is part of Davidson College’s “Freedom of Expression Week 2022: Speak. Listen. Learn. Do.”
Dr. Brammer also spoke on Democratic Discourse in the Classroom: Lessons from the University of Chicago’s Parrhesia Program at 4 pm on March 22 on Zoom and in the Davidson Library Open Tutoring Room. In this talk focused on deliberative pedagogy, Dr. Brammer discussed how discourse rests at the nexus of academic inquiry, freedom of expression, democratic practices, and civic education. The testing and refining of ideas necessary for academic and civic inquiry depend on the ability to seek out and engage multiple perspectives, differences, and disagreements. Through an examination and application of discourse theory, this session explored principles and practices to develop student capacities for engaging and facilitating vigorous, inclusive, and productive discourse.
Leila Brammer is the Director of the Parrhesia Program for Public Discourse at the University of Chicago. Rooted in the Chicago Principles of Freedom of Expression, the Parrhesia Program curricula, programming, and outreach seek to foster the capacity for vigorous, inclusive, and productive discourse in the classroom, campus, and civic life. Building on the history and theory of freedom of expression and rhetoric, the curriculum and programming promote and model academic and civic practices of dialogue, deliberation, and advocacy. Outreach efforts include workshops and seminars for college/university and high school faculty and students to explore and embed both the principles and practices of open discourse in curricula, campus life, and surrounding communities.
Previously, Dr. Brammer developed a civic engagement curriculum and public deliberation and dialogue program at Gustavus Adolphus College that were recognized nationally by the American Association of Colleges and Universities and the National Communication Association. In her work in public deliberation and dialogue, Dr. Brammer builds and facilitates frameworks in which community members come to understand problems from multiple perspectives and work together to develop evidence-based approaches to address challenging civic issues.