Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Civic Dialogue will be part of a panel discussion, “Conflict Doesn’t Have to Be Scary,” on October 26 at 6:00 p.m. in the Elkin Hall great room.
The program is organized by the Office of Student Wellness. It will feature IUP’s Distinguished University Professor Lorraine Guth, a faculty member in IUP’s Department of Counseling and Human Development.
The Center for Civic Dialogue graduate assistant Brooke Eisenhuth will moderate the event. Sarah Logue, graduate assistant for both the Social Equity and Title IX Office and the Center for Civic Dialogue, will serve as a panelist.
Funded by a $2.29-million grant from the United States Department of Education, the Center for Civic Dialogue serves as both a physical and intellectual headquarters for civic dialogue and innovation at IUP. The center coordinated the university’s September 14 Constitution Day celebration, which commemorates the September 17, 1787, signing of the US Constitution.
“Learning how to make your voice heard in a world full of conflict, practice constructive dialogue, talk across different points of view, and engage in civic conversation with people with whom you might disagree isn’t something that comes naturally or easily to most people,” Associate Professor of Political Science Gwen Torges said. Torges is the academic founder of the center.
“National studies show that college students increasingly struggle to engage in honest, open dialogue about controversial issues, including disagreeing during class discussions, and IUP students are not immune from this challenge,” Torges said. “The Center for Civic Dialogue initiative is designed to provide structured opportunities to learn and practice constructive dialogue to provide sustained, developmentally sequenced practice in talking across differences,” she said.
The “Conflict Doesn’t Have to Be Scary” panel discussion will focus on how conflict can take a toll on health and wellness, and ways to manage the impact of conflict on health.
“Students were sincerely interested and engaged in our initial events during Welcome Week and at Constitution Day programs, and excited about additional opportunities on how to develop the skills for successful civil and civic dialogue,” Center for Civic Dialogue Director Stephan Schaffrath said. “This initiative is university-wide, so we are very pleased to partner with the Six O’Clock Series and with the Office of Student Wellness,” he said.
Center for Civic Dialogue events continue with national constitutional scholar Jeffrey Rosen at IUP on November 9 as the IUP Center for Civic Dialogue’s Inaugural Distinguished Speaker.
Rosen’s public lecture and discussion, “Can We Still Talk? The Constitution, Disagreement, and Our Shared Future: An Evening with Jeffrey Rosen,” is free and open to the community.
Rosen’s program begins at 6:00 p.m. in Jane E. Leonard Hall, room 225, on the IUP campus.
The kickoff event for the Center for Civic Dialogue will explore the Constitution as an ongoing conversation—and the role individuals play in keeping that conversation thoughtful, informed, and open to different perspectives. The program will include conversations about the freedoms that allow people to disagree, including the protection of speech that some find offensive.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. IUP’s Impact 150 comprehensive campaign is designed to honor a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, public service, and leadership in healthcare education, including the first college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in the commonwealth.