Allegheny College Civility Prize Takes Historic Twist in College’s Bicentennial Year

March 19, 2015 — The Allegheny College Prize for Civility in Public Life — the nation’s leading effort to positively reinforce civility in contemporary American politics — will take a different approach this year. In this its bicentennial year, Allegheny is engaging nationally renowned historians to help the College identify and award the most important moments of civility in American history.

Usually, the prize is awarded to contemporary political figures — such as last year’s prize, awarded to the 20 women of the Senate for their work in defusing a federal shutdown. As Allegheny celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2015 — a history nearly as old as America herself — the time was right to look back, said Allegheny President James Mullen.

“Civility has played an essential and under-appreciated role in American history,” said Mullen. “It is our hope that by helping people to appreciate the profound, essential and positive role that civility has played in American history, we can in some small way inspire current politicians to recommit to civility. And perhaps most importantly, we hope to inspire young people to see politics as a vocation worthy of their aspirations.”

Mullen said that nationally renowned presidential historian Douglas Brinkley, author of “Cronkite” and other acclaimed histories, has agreed to lead the bicentennial Civility effort with Allegheny. Other prominent historians are assisting by submitting nominations.

“Allegheny’s work to underscore civility has quietly become an important force for good in American politics today,” said Brinkley, who received an honorary degree from Allegheny in 2013. “It will be meaningful to look back over the arc of American history to remind ourselves that civility has been at the root of some of our most important national moments.”

Allegheny is inviting the public to participate by submitting nominations at allegheny.edu/civility or via social media using the hashtag #Civility2015. Deadline for submissions will be Monday, April 6.

Allegheny founded the prize after research by its Center for Political Participation documented that young people were “checking out” of political life, largely because of their distaste for the incivility of so much of contemporary political discourse. The college found that young people are giving time for service more than ever — but their interest in public service is declining — with daunting implications for democracy.

That insight led the college to another. While legions of political commentators lament incivility, there was no concerted effort to positively reinforce the many political figures who aspire to be civil — proud partisans who fight in the arena of ideas, but seek to do so with civility.

The Allegheny College Prize for Civility in Public Life annually recognizes two political figures, one from the left and one from the right, who argue passionately but with civility for their beliefs. The prize seeks to honor politicians who have demonstrated steadfast civility throughout their career or, in the case of this year’s winners, have shown authentic, courageous civility at an important moment in time.

The inaugural award was bestowed at the National Press Club in February 2012 to political journalists David Brooks and Mark Shields, in recognition of their longstanding record of civil commentary. In 2013, the college awarded the prize to Senators Dianne Feinstein (D) and Lindsey Graham (R) for their efforts to exemplify civility while leading debate in some of the most contentious issues of our time. In 2014, Allegheny College judged that the most fitting recipient was an entire group of Democrat and Republican lawmakers –- the Women of the Senate for their role in helping to end the government shutdown in October 2013.