好色先生 is encouraging people to have real, open conversations they might otherwise be afraid to discuss publicly through its Difficult Conversations Initiative.
Kevin Navratil, Moraine Valley political science professor, and Dr. DeWitt Scott, student support specialist, collaborated to create the Difficult Conversations Initiative for the Democracy Commitment on campus. Throughout the next few months, they will lead virtual discussions on various challenging topics not necessarily talked about every day.
鈥淚 know there is lots of polarization, and the quality of conversations is poor,鈥� Navratil said. 鈥淒ifficult conversations might mean different things to different people. We鈥檙e picking topics not discussed much to spark conversation.鈥�
The two paired up after Navratil came across the book 鈥淭hink Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don鈥檛 Know,鈥� which touches on how ineffective it is to debate, argue and try to convince someone your side is correct. Instead, the book emphasizes listening to each other, understanding where people come from and how everyone has a shared humanity. Then, Navratil discovered online videos Scott had made for Moraine Reads (a collaborative effort of book recommendations between the Moraine Valley Library and Communications Department to promote reading) about impactful nonfiction books he recommends, and he reached out.
鈥淲e chose topics that are prevalent, political, but we鈥檙e peeling back the layers, not in a politically correct way where you walk on eggshells. We want to address questions people are thinking about but don鈥檛 speak of,鈥� Scott explained.
鈥淐ampuses shouldn鈥檛 shy away from heated or controversial topics. We want people to feel safe. I want this to be something to grow and not just be one semester. I want it built into the culture and for Moraine Valley to keep the conversations going,鈥� Navratil said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not designed to be a lecture. We鈥檙e not changing minds but integrating and processing others鈥� perspectives that might be new to you while having enough empathy to then view as legitimate.鈥�
鈥淚 want to finally have conversations about these topics without news soundbites that are sensationalism, not learning. We want talk that respects everyone, to see what they think, the way they think and vice versa and understand. Maybe down the line you鈥檒l change a perspective,鈥� Scott added.
Future Difficult Conversations Initiative topics include:
March 22, 1 p.m. 鈥� Why doesn鈥檛 the majority always rule?: How America鈥檚 political system can thwart the will of the people
April 5, 1 p.m. 鈥� Do college campuses have a problem with cancel culture, 鈥榳okeism鈥� and free speech?
April 19, 1 p.m. 鈥� How cultural issues such as transgender bathrooms, Black Lives Matter, critical race theory, immigration, shifting to remote learning for K-12 public education, and defunding the police influence elections
May 3, 1 p.m. 鈥� Examining the erosion of democracy in the U.S.
For links to one of these virtual conversations, visit morainevalley.edu/calendar/democracy-commitment-events/.
For news media inquiries, contact Maura Vizza, Moraine Valley communications specialist and sports information coordinator, at (708) 974-5742 or Vizzam@morainevalley.edu.
