Crossroads — a point at which one must make a decision that could have critical and potentially lasting consequences. Like others throughout the country, this is where many on Hamilton’s campus found themselves in the weeks leading up to the November election, embracing democratic dialogue.

To provide students, faculty, and staff opportunities to come together and engage in issues related to the electoral process, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Ngoni Munemo spearheaded a new campuswide program, Crossroads: Elections and Practicing the Liberal Arts.

“I’ve spent my career studying democracy, democratic dialogue, and the democratic process, and I have come to understand that they offer us the chance to gather as citizens to think big, creative thoughts about who we are — and who we want to become — as individuals and a community,” noted Munemo in announcing the effort. “While, as a nation, these chances to come together to reinvent or reaffirm our values, to strive for a just and equitable society, and to examine how we are constructing and practicing citizenship happen only periodically, the gift of a liberal arts college is that we get the chance to do this every day.”

Munemo, who is also a professor of government, led a committee of faculty, staff, and students who coordinated the collaborative efforts of fostering democratic dialogue.

Each Tuesday, students on their way to lunch could engage in democratic dialogue about their hopes, fears, and questions leading up to the election. Faculty and staff members, including Munemo and President Steven Tepper, served as facilitators for this democratic dialogue.

Thoughtful Prompts for Democratic Dialogue

  • Have you ever had a conversation that helped you gain a new perspective on an issue? Tell us about it.
  • How difficult is it for you to talk about divisive political issues with people who may not share your beliefs? How often do those chats happen — at school, with family or friends, online, or elsewhere?
  • What is something people misunderstand about your political party or your beliefs? What do you wish they knew?
  • What life experiences and personal values make you feel passionately about the issues that matter to you?

Read the full article about democracy and the liberal arts by Stacey Himmelberger and Meg Keniston at Hamilton College.