College students from the University of Mary Washington and Germanna Community College came together last week to participate in a Braver Angels debate at UMW. The event, part of the Commonwealth’s VA250 celebration, showcased a different style of debate that fosters civil discourse and the consideration of others’ viewpoints. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.
Zoe Rapp’s sentiments about social media were met with soft finger snaps of approval last week during a different kind of debate at the University of Mary Washington.
Part of a national movement to support civil discourse by embracing the power of dialogue, the “Braver Angels” debate format favors consensus over competition and fosters the understanding of different perspectives. Speakers share their viewpoints on a pre-chosen topic without fear of retaliation, while audience members ask questions through a facilitator to avoid personal attacks. And the crowd shows support with subtle movements like finger snaps, knee pats and toe taps.
Rapp, who’s in her first year, joined other students from UMW, along with some from Germanna Community College, to defend or disprove a central question: Does social media pose a threat to democracy? The public square-style debate was part of the VA250 celebration of America’s semiquincentennial, with government-recognizing events taking place across the Commonwealth. About 100 people attended the debate, held in the Chandler Ballroom inside Mary Washington’s Cedric Rucker University Center.
“I was happy to see how excited students were to discuss the issue and that they felt energized by the Braver Angels debate model,” UMW Center for Community Engagement Director Sarah Dewees said of the event, which was designed to reveal how recognizing different opinions can present opportunities for growth, empathy and collaboration. Read more about the Braver Angels debate.
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