The Civility Initiative (CI) at the College of Charleston is preparing a full slate of events this fall to help our community have civil conversations, even when they share opposing views. Most events will be on the College of Charleston campus, but other events include in the surrounding community, as well as the DC Metro Area and San Antonio, Texas.
The CI at the College of Charleston will host several events, especially in the lead-up to the election, geared toward bridging political divides. Mike Lee, director of the Civility Initiative, shares: “So many problems in America seem like they are the result of too much aggression, too much fighting. While this is certainly true, it ignores the quieter problem of flight. That is, when we withdraw from one another, when we’re isolated from one another, when we don’t know much about one another, then it’s easier to imagine neighbors as demons. The risks of fight and flight are especially prevalent around a contentious presidential election. The Civility Initiative at the College of Charleston addresses both fight and flight, and we could not be more excited about the slate of programs we have planned over the next several months.”
Wednesday, September 4
4 - 5:15 p.m.
Craig Auditorium (65 George Street)
Keynote address by Dr. Jerome Adams, former Surgeon General of the United States (2017-2021). Following the keynote will be a panel discussion with public health faculty Brian Bossak and Leslie Hart and moderated by Mike Lee. The discussion will feature critical lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and answer how can we respond better to the next threat, why we keep making the same mistakes, and why we must promote health equity for all.
Monday, September 16
10 a.m.- 12 p.m.
Mt. Pleasant Library (1133 Mathis Ferry Road)
Mike Lee and Ryan Milner, both communication faculty, will lead a talk, “Navigating the Modern Media Landscape.”
Tuesday, September 24
5:15 - 7:30 p.m.
Rita 101 Auditorium (58 Coming Street)
The CI will co-host the film screening of the “Banned Together” documentary. The tagline from the film is, “Students in a South Carolina coastal town collide with the book-banning frenzy in the U.S. when 97 books are banned from their school libraries. The students become national anti-censorship activists.” A discussion will follow the documentary viewing.
Thursday, October 3
5:30 p.m.
Septima Clark Auditorium (ECTR 118) located in the Thaddeus Street Jr. Education Center at 25 St. Philip Street.
The CI and Center for Market Choice will co-host a screening of “Undivide Us,” a film about polarization and free speech, followed by a Q&A.
Monday, October 14
1 - 2 p.m.
Tate 202 (9 Liberty Street)
The CI and the School of Business will host a conversation with Mike Serazio, communication professor at Boston College University.
Monday, November 11
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Sottile Theatre (44 George Street).
The CI will host Jamelle Bouie, New York Times columnist, a noted voice on race and politics, followed by a Q&A with Mike Lee.
All of the events at the College of Charleston are free and open to the public.
