Allegheny College Honors David Brooks and Mark Shields with Inaugural “Prize for Civility in Public Life”
Feb. 21, 2012 — President James H. Mullen Jr. of Allegheny College, one of the nation’s oldest liberal-arts colleges, today honored political journalists and commentators David Brooks of The New York Times and nationally syndicated columnist Mark Shields as the recipients of the first Allegheny College Prize for Civility in Public Life at the National Press Club.
The Allegheny College Prize for Civility in Public Life each year will honor two winners, one from each side of the ideological spectrum, who show noteworthy civility while continuing to fight passionately for their beliefs. After reviewing many nominees in politics and political journalism, Brooks and Shields were selected for the inaugural award.
- Continue reading the full press release…
- President Mullen’s op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Reward civility: Cursing the coarseness of political debate is not enough”
- President Mullen’s remarks from the presentation
Allegheny College President James H. Mullen Jr. Delivers Keynote Address On Civility At Brookings Institution
October 13, 2011 — Allegheny College President James H. Mullen Jr. gave a keynote address last week at the Brookings Institution, on “The Importance of Civility in Public Discourse.”
The Brookings Institution is one of the nation’s premier public-policy think tanks.
In his address, Mullen highlighted Allegheny’s work, through its nationally acclaimed Center for Political Participation, under the leadership of Political Science professor Daniel Shea, to shed light on the fact that the incivility of the nation’s political rhetoric is turning more and more young people away from public service. More voices are needed to shine a bright light on those public servants who share their passionate views in a civil manner, Mullen said.