COLLEGES CELEBRATE DAY OF CIVILITY BY HOSTING HEALTHCARE DEBATE:
Braver Angels Online Debate Scheduled for April 8
CUMBERLAND, Md. (March 30, 2021) – Students from Frostburg State University (FSU) and Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) will unite on Allegany County’s Day of Civility to host a community discussion about healthcare. Using a debate format developed by Braver Angels, online participants will explore the question: “Is Healthcare a Basic Human Right?” The Zoom event will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 8, 2021.
All Allegany County residents are invited to attend and participate. Preregistration is required and available by visiting https://tinyurl.com/4xtx8dtu.
FSU and ACM students will introduce the topic of healthcare, provide context and offer pro and con positions for discussion by participants. Braver Angels debates are not traditional debates where participants seek to “beat” their opponent; instead, they are framed as a collective search for truth that brings forth vigor, passion and greater understanding. These highly structured conversations are led by a trained debate chair. These debates invite participants to think together, listen carefully to one another and empower all to be touched and perhaps changed by each other’s ideas.
Event organizers include: Braver Angels, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, and Bridges USA; the Hustings News: Political and Civil Discourse; the Allegany County chapter of Choose Civility; Frostburg State University’s Debate Team, Communication Leadership Lab, and LEAD 401 Citizen Leadership class; and Allegany College of Maryland’s Peace Club, and The Democracy Commitment Committee.
Residents of Allegany County recognize the importance of civility and working together. The Allegany County chapter of Choose Civility was initiated by the Allegany County Library System, the Women’s Action Coalition of Greater Allegany County and the 2018 class of Leadership Allegany. The chapter is a community-wide initiative to position the county as a model of civility by promoting civil conversations and kindness toward others. A full list of 2021 Day of Civility events in Allegany County is available online at alleganycountylibrary.info/dayofcivility.
“Debates and discussions are necessary tools in the pursuit of an educated, inclusive, and engaged citizenry. Opportunities to learn from one another should always be taken,” said Jessica Thayer, president of FSU’s Debate Team. “The FSU Debate Team is excited to be a part of Allegany County’s Day of Civility, and we hope to inspire more conversations in the future.” For more information about the online debate, individuals are encouraged to contact Thayer by emailing jthayer0@frostburg.edu.
