Top American colleges and universities have become infamous for their intellectual monoculture. The wildest leftist notions are perfectly acceptable, but anyone who espouses support for contrary ideas like limited government and economic freedom is apt to be targeted. And not with rational arguments, but with vitriol and “cancellation.”
One bright spot in this regard is a recent program begun at UNC-Chapel Hill, the Public Discourse Program (PPD). Grace Hall writes about it in today’s Martin Center article.
Hall begins, “Since the rise of social media, many students have gotten used to discussing difficult topics within the protection of their own echo chambers. Students are often not expected to defend their points of view or engage with others of differing opinions. While universities frequently support such closed-mindedness with ‘safe spaces’ and the barring of certain speakers from campus, some university programs and faculty are attempting to push back against this anti-intellectual trend.”
The idea behind PPD is to show how adults ought to carry on debate over controversial matters. But as you might predict, that was too much for some faculty members, who griped that it would promote conservative ideas and was to be run by a non-leftist.
Fortunately, the complainers did not succeed in canceling PPD, and it has been hosting good events. Hall elaborates: “One recent event put on by PPD was a three-part workshop series, Leading Controversial Conversations. The workshop aimed to help ’empower educators across the curriculum with the necessary tools to facilitate robust discourse across controversial terrain.’ Other events have included debates entitled ‘Should Congress Abolish the Filibuster?’ and ‘Should Gambling Be Legalized?,’ as well as dialogues on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the question, ‘What is gender?'”
Contrary to the opponents, PPD doesn’t promote any particular point of view, but shows how debate should proceed, respecting all points of view. Let’s hope this concept catches on at many other schools.