Ohio College Leads Efforts to Foster Civil Discourse in Politics
Ohio’s upcoming presidential primaries are expected to bring forth the usual dose of attack ads, bombastic speeches, and social media vitriol. But one college in Ohio is taking a stand against the toxic polarization that often characterizes political debates. Baldwin Wallace University has partnered with nonpartisan organization Braver Angels to promote healthier and more productive ways for people with differing political opinions to engage with one another.
Braver Angels, established in 2016, seeks to move beyond partisan bickering and bridge the divide between political persuasions. Baldwin Wallace University has been collaborating with Braver Angels through various initiatives, including organizing sessions and conducting polls to gauge Northeast Ohioans’ views on civil discourse. However, the university is taking its commitment even further by integrating Braver Angels-inspired training into its mandatory freshman class starting in the fall.
Universities provide a unique platform for teaching these skills as they bring together individuals from diverse political backgrounds to discuss current issues. Tom Sutton, Baldwin Wallace’s interim provost, emphasized the importance of universities as spaces where people with differing opinions can come together for dialogue.
Lauren Copeland, associate director of Baldwin Wallace’s Community Research Institute, highlighted that the skills promoted by Braver Angels are not limited to political debates but can be applied to various aspects of life. Copeland stated, No matter what you’re doing, these skills help you navigate relationships in your life.
The Braver Angels training served as the basis for cleveland.com’s Civil Discourse series, a collection of articles published in 2023. In an effort to understand the organization’s philosophy, a cleveland.com reporter attended a recent Braver Angels workshop held at Baldwin Wallace.
During the workshop, led by Braver Angels volunteer Carolyn Brommer, students from different courses engaged in a lesson titled depolarizing within. Brommer emphasized the significance of self-reflection in mitigating toxic polarization, stating, Toxic polarization starts within ourselves and how we talk to like-minded people.
The workshop comprised both class discussions and small group sessions. Participants navigated a survey consisting of six questions aimed at raising their self-awareness of behaviors that hinder civil interaction. These questions encouraged participants to reflect on their tendencies to compare the worst of the opposing side with the best of their own, and to assign self-serving or negative motives to the other group while attributing positive motives to their own.
The session provided strategies for countering polarization, such as dispelling stereotypes, distinguishing between voters and politicians, abstaining from criticizing political opponents in one’s own echo chamber, and recognizing the diversity of views within opposing groups. Participants were also advised to engage with thought leaders from the other side to diversify their perspectives and be open to criticizing their own side.
Bringing people together and fostering genuine connections was another approach highlighted during the workshop. Community service was cited as a means to transcend labels and work towards a common goal. Brommer encouraged attendees to look beyond solely their political identities, posing the question, Are you really just your political identity?
While the shorter class session at Baldwin Wallace limited the extent of discussions on hot-button issues, Copeland mentioned that longer Braver Angels sessions allow participants to test the strategies learned through dialogues on immigration or gun control. These longer sessions aim to equip participants with the ability to convey conservative and liberal points of view respectfully and without resorting to bombastic rhetoric.
Students who attended the workshop expressed positive feedback. Emily Henthorn, a freshman studying business, found the training session helpful in teaching her to consider alternative perspectives. She emphasized the importance of understanding why individuals hold specific beliefs before passing judgment.
Kierstyn Yates, a senior political science major, commended the workshop’s productivity and its significance relative to other similar events she had attended. Sam Jackson, a freshman studying education, highlighted the value of engaging with individuals of different political leanings and the usefulness of the pivot strategy discussed during the training.
Baldwin Wallace University’s collaboration with Braver Angels reflects their commitment to promoting civil discourse and bridging the political divide. By integrating Braver Angels-inspired training into their curriculum, the university aims to equip students with valuable skills applicable not only in political debates but in all aspects of their lives. As Ohio’s primaries approach, the efforts of Baldwin Wallace and Braver Angels serve as a reminder that a more nuanced and respectful approach to political discourse is possible for us all.
