A House Divided.
What Would We Have to Give Up to Get the Political System We Want?
Public Deliberation — Spring 2020
March 2, 2020, 2-4 pm
We are excited to announce the inaugural student public deliberation this spring!
The topic chosen for this year is opportune given then political climate. This public forum will provide participants with an opportunity to discuss the benefits and trade-offs of various actions that could create a more effective system of governance.
We will be using the National Issue Forum’s (NIF) deliberation format and issue guide. This approach will: introduce students to some of the problems in our political system; support them in recognizing the different ways in which they and others have been affected by the issue; allow them to discuss the strengths and drawbacks of different approaches to remedying the problem; help them identify areas of common ground and areas of continued difference.
Ahead of the deliberation, students will be provided with an issue guide which lays out the problem and three options to consider. At the deliberation, the moderator will introduce the issue and review the options. They will also lay out the guidelines for deliberation. In small groups, participants will first discuss the ways in which the issue affects them. They will then review the options one at a time, developing their understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Interested in incorporating this event into your course?
“The best two hours of the semester“recounts students experiences participating in deliberative democracy. It can give you ideas on how and why you might want to provide your students with this experience.
Please contact Dr. Catherine Willis (c.willis@hvcc.edu) by Friday, Dec. 20 if you are interested in having your students participate.
A commitment is not required now. In the new year, she will follow-up with you to provide more information. She can also help you plan for how to incorporate it into your course.
If you have any questions, be sure to contact Dr. Willis at the Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement — (518) 629-4738 or c.willis@hvcc.edu.
Published: Wed, 11 Dec 2019 13:10:52 +0000 by c.willis