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    • This new Ohio State initiative teaches how to tackle difficult topics
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    This new Ohio State initiative teaches how to tackle difficult topics

    Umito Posted on

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    National elections. Geopolitical conflict. Polarization and partisanship.

    Maybe just the sight of these words gives you hives. In a time when everyday conversations can feel tense, it’s easy to want to avoid potential conflict altogether.

    But Aaron Yarmel and Kathryn Joyce don’t want you to ignore the conflicts. They want to teach you how to disagree better.

    Yarmel and Joyce lead Ohio State University Center for Ethics and Human Valuesa center for “respectful discussion and interdisciplinary engagement on the ethical challenges that shape our campus and the broader community,” according to the center. CEHV offers several workshops, forums and classes that Buckeyes can participate in.

    “I see civil discourse as a way for us to better understand ourselves, where we come from, what our values ​​are, and how we reason from those values ​​to draw conclusions about how to live our lives, but also what should be our policies,” said Joyce, the center director who also runs CEHV Civil discourse for citizenship Program.

    The center has been around for more than a decade and offers civic discourse programs, but was recently highlighted as part of Ohio State’s new program. Listen. Learn. Discuss. platform. The initiative, launched this semester by Ohio State President Ted Carter, serves as a framework for campus groups dedicated to free speech and civic education, said Yarmel, associate director of CEHV .

    Ohio State students, staff and faculty, as well as community members, learn the skills needed to navigate difficult conversations and make difficult discussions more productive. Programs like OSU Votes and Divided Community Project are also connected through Listen. Learn. Discuss.

    Inclusion of CEHV in Learn. Listen. Discuss. That means the center has been busier than ever, Yarmel said.

    Create spaces to disagree

    Many students fear jumping into difficult conversations for fear they will say the wrong thing, Joyce said. They worry that they don’t speak the right language, don’t know enough about the history of something, or don’t know how to ask questions or express curiosity about controversial topics.

    So giving people space to practice having these conversations is essential.

    “One of the most important things for students is to preserve spaces where they can experiment and make mistakes,” Yarmel said. I think one of the hardest obstacles preventing students from improving in civil discourse is that every time they try, they are heavily criticized for their mistakes. »

    Participants in CEHV workshops have “scaffolded opportunities” to practice discussing difficult topics, Yarmel said. This includes taking a role and having a dialogue on a specific topic, taking the time to debrief, and then restarting the conversation.

    The 4Cs of civic discourse

    The CEHV relies on what Joyce and Yarmel call “the 4Cs” as a framework for civic discourse. They include being curious, charitable, conscientious and constructive. Put into practice, the 4Cs are useful tools for leading respectful and productive discussions, Joyce said.

    For example, let’s say you’re discussing the presidential election with someone you know who votes for a political party you don’t. Instead of assuming that person is wrong because of their opinions, the 4Cs suggest asking questions with humility, giving them the benefit of the doubt, reasoning responsibly, and remaining focused on gaining greater understanding.

    The goal of civil discourse, Joyce said, is not to convince someone or win the argument. It’s not just about being polite or courteous. The goal is mutual understanding.

    “In order to respectfully relate to each other as equal citizens, we must be able to understand each other,” Joyce said. “…People can pursue their different agendas and have their different belief systems and ideologies, but we still have to live together in a way that works for everyone.”

    This is often easier said than done, and both parties involved in a discussion might not be interested in addressing the issue with the 4Cs. It’s no big deal, Yarmel said.

    “Civil discourse is just one approach to civic engagement, and if you think what you need to do now is engage in activism, persuasion, or debate, it “It’s absolutely fine. There’s room for that,” Yarmel said.

    What matters, he says, is being clear about what you’re doing. For example, don’t make someone think you’re giving a civil speech if you just want to persuade them.

    If you want someone else to approach you with curiosity and respect, Yarmel said you should also use an approach that’s similar to them, too.

    Free civic discourse resources and events

    Although some of CEHV’s programming is reserved for the Ohio State community, the center also offers events and resources to the public.

    The center has developed two resource guides using the 4Cs on how to talk about the 2024 elections And a guide to talking about Israel and Palestine. There is also a free, self-paced course on the 4C framework available online.

    The CEHV Civic Discourse Fellows are also host multiple public forums this month, participation is free. The center will host a forum on “Should the personal be political? at 11:15 a.m. Nov. 8 at the Ohio Union and another on “Is a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict still viable? at 11:15 a.m. Nov. 15 at Thompson Library.

    Sheridan Hendrix is ​​a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Subscribe to Extra Credit, its educational newsletter, here.

    [email protected]

    @sheridan120

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