Allegheny College will continue its examination of civility and politics May 18-19 at the National Conference of College Leaders: Pathway to Civility.
About 60 students and administrators representing 14 colleges/universities will converge on the Allegheny campus to enhance communication between young Democrats and Republicans and to establish a high bar for the respectful exchange of ideas.
“After what we’ve seen in Washington recently on the health care issue, conferences such as this are important. If colleges and universities don’t step up to address incivility, who will?” said Daniel M. Shea, director of the Center for Political Participation (CPP) at Allegheny College.
The Allegheny conference will feature an exciting lineup of activities, including a keynote speech by U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper, 3rd Legislative District, Pennsylvania. She will speak at the Tippie Alumni Center May 18 at noon.
Professor Shea will examine the results of the Center for Political Participation’s latest national poll on civility and politics, beginning at 1:45 p.m. May 18 at Campus Center 301-302. Immediately following in the same room will be an intensive afternoon workshop led by Peter Hwosch of the Transpartisan Alliance. Hwosch owns Hwosch Productions, Oregon, and was the lead documentarian of the 2007 Reuniting America film featuring former Vice President Al Gore.
Sessions also will include a critique of a relevant film and the drafting of a template that will guide future mediation between the political parties.
According to Shea, the need for a conference on civility emerged as the American health care debate turned ugly in the past year. The robust political activity that surged among youth in the 2008 election already has substantially declined, he said, and many young Americans have turned away from active political engagement.
The conference is co-sponsored by the Center for Political Participation and Allegheny’s Civic Engagement Council. It is one of a series of events the Center for Political Participation is planning in the coming year on civility.
For more details on the conference, please call the Center for Political Participation at 814-332-6202, or e-mail CPP Program Coordinator Mary Solberg at msolberg@allegheny.edu.