Who, What and Where are the Braver Angels

Who, What and Where are the Braver Angels Debates


How can we hear what the people from the other side of the political spectrum are saying without listening? 


That is the concept and the foundation of the Braver Angels debates. Braver Angels is an organization that was created in 2016 shortly after the presidential election, and its mission is to depolarize America.


LBCC communication instructor Mark Urista said he first learned about Braver Angels in an op-ed piece by David Brooks in the New York Times, and what he wrote really resonated with him.


The first Braver Angels debate on the LBCC campus included John Wood Jr. and Ciaran O’Connor. They did a presentation followed by a workshop. (Here is the link to that first debate.)



The most recent Zoom debate focused on whether colleges should stay neutral or take a stand when it comes to politics, civil rights, and other other issues. The debate included three speakers “for” and three speakers “against.” The moderator also took questions from the audience between each speaker. (Here is the link to a video of that debate.)

 

Sophomore Cheyanne Rider is a student leader with LBCC’s Civil Discourse program and dual-enrolled student at OSU. She spoke for schools staying neutral when it comes to politics and social issues. 


“These debates are not only worth doing but necessary for our communities and nation to become less polarized,” she said. “I love Braver Angels! Our goal as participants is to work together in the collective search for truth and to do so on an equal playing field. We bring people from very different backgrounds together to share their experiences so that everyone can better understand one another. These debates, civil discourse, and communication are my passions,” 


Another LBCC student, sophomore Eagle Hunt, spoke against the school taking a neutral stance on politics and social issues. 


“I got involved through LBCC’s Civil Discourse program. Depending on the type of debate, classroom or campus, I do different things: For campus, I prepare a speech and help other opening speakers in our program steelman (a stronger version of an argument that one is about to critically analyze) their arguments to make them as strong as possible. I also help spread the word. 


“For classroom debates, I act as the debates chair and ensure that the students follow the BA (Braver Angels) debate format. BA is also funded by a research grant to measure the effectiveness of the debates on campus. I help attendees fill out an optional survey to help collect data.” 


They have at least two debates a term. The Civil Discourse program also carries out classroom debates. Student leaders develop the questions for the whiteboards located on campus. They put a prompt across the top of the whiteboards every two weeks where students and staff can write down their thoughts depending on which side of the issue they are on. It is also a place to read what others think about the prompt. The prompt that was just put up on the whiteboards is: Should colleges replace D and F grades with “No Credit?” Explain


You can find them in the lobby of Takena Hall, outside at the northeast corner of the courtyard on the Albany campus, and in the lobby of Chinook Hall in Corvallis. 

. 

Look for the next Braver Angels debate announcement and don’t be afraid to write your thoughts on a whiteboard near you.  



At a Glance: 

What: Civil Discourse and the Braver Angels debates.

Next Debate: Friday, March 8

Where: Pacific Lutheran University, Parkland, Washington 

What next: Look for another Braver Angel debate next term.

Website: www.linnbenton.edu/student-life/clubs-and-programs/civil-discourse-program.php

For more information: Mark Urista at uristam@linnbenton.edu

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