MEADVILLE, Pa. – May 25, 2010 – Student leaders representing 14 colleges and universities from throughout the country released a joint statement this month to guide the public discourse of elected officials and their constituents.
“Ten Tips to Improve Civility” was issued during Pathway to Civility, a national conference of college Democrats, Republicans and independents. Here are their recommendations:
“Ten Tips to Improve Civility”
- Listen to opposing views.
- Seek shared values.
- Acknowledge the legitimacy of opposing positions.
- Identify the problem at-hand, focusing on it rather than on larger conflicts.
- Avoid political caricatures, labels and generalizations that may not truly represent the views of your adversaries.
- Accept that disagreement will exist without giving up your own convictions.
- Clarify what is being said before attacking and/or responding.
- Recognize the value of solutions beyond those offered by traditional party platforms.
- Consider the consequences of what you say and do.
- Hold yourself personally accountable for your own political actions.
The students developed the list during one of the culminating activities of Pathway to Civility hosted May 18-19 by the Center for Political Participation and the Civic Engagement Council at Allegheny College.
“The conference was very interesting,” said Amanda McCann, a political science major at Indiana University-Purdue University and vice president of the College Republicans on her campus. “It changed my perception of civility, really deepened my understanding of the concept.”
The conference was a pilot program of the Center for Political Participation, which has been at the forefront of national efforts to examine civility and politics and to enhance communication between young Democrats, Republicans and independents, according to Daniel M. Shea, political science professor and director of the Center for Political Participation.
“Our idea was to encourage students from both sides of the aisle to work together to examine the serious issue of civility in politics, establish a high bar for the respectful exchange of ideas, and, in the process, perhaps begin to develop some lasting friendships,” Shea explained. “We were quite impressed both with the students’ passion for issues and with their determination to work together to create opportunities to reach consensus where possible. Civility, it seems, may be one of those areas for agreement.”
U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa. – 3rd District) was the keynote speaker. She acknowledged that the 111th Congress has faced unprecedented incivility, particularly in the throes of the national health care debate. “It’s been eye-opening for me to see,” Dahlkemper told the students, adding that she herself had been the object of threats following her “yes” vote for health reform. “The good news I have to offer is that there really is civility in Congress except that it does not make the nightly news cut,” Dahlkemper added.
According to Shea, the need for a conference on civility emerged as the American health care debate turned ugly this past year. The robust political activity that surged among youth in the 2008 election already has substantially declined, Shea said, and many young Americans have turned away from active political engagement.
Matt Lacombe, an Allegheny senior pursuing a double-major in economics and political science, added, “I hope our conversation will continue on Facebook, maintaining both its passionate yet civil tone and allowing students to participate from different parts of the country.”
Conference participants included students from Allegheny College, Louisiana State University, Catholic University, Central Michigan University, Macalester University, Chatham University, Hiram College, Indiana University – Purdue University, Slippery Rock University, SUNY Fredonia, Thiel College, California University of Pennsylvania, Winthrop University and the University of Florida.
Late last month, the Center for Political Participation released results of a study on civility and compromise in American politics, “Nastiness, Name-Calling, and Negativity,” which revealed widespread concern over the deterioration of the tone of political discourse. (See the icon for the Allegheny civility survey on this page.)