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On Discourse Democracy Themed Teaching Series

As part of a special series, On Discourse will sponsor educational programs designed to help students, and the campus community, deepen their understanding of democracy in the United States. Where divergent schools of thought exist,...

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Engaging Democracy: A Civil Discourse Experience in POL 290

In Dr. Liz Smith’s POL 290 course, students participated in a civil discourse experience with members of OLLI, where they delivered a 20-minute presentation highlighting what they had learned throughout the semester, centered around the...

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From Tariffs to DOGE: Sparking Conversation through the On Discourse Initiative

With spring beginning and the school year nearing its end, several CLPs have sparked engaging discussions among Furman students and faculty. On March 17th, one event focused on the recent tariffs imposed by the Trump...

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Politics on a Plate: A Discussion with a Slice of Pizza

“Free pizza is offered to anyone who wants to come to the Politics Community Square and discuss current political issues. All students, faculty, staff, and OLLI people are welcome. A Politics faculty member leads the...

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Dialogue Across Differences: Dr. Inabinet’s Students Participate in the Unify Challenge

Inspired by Dr. Liz Smith, Dr. Brandon Inabinet encouraged his Rhetoric and Strategy students to participate in the Unify Challenge College Bowl. The Unify Challenge is an online platform where students are paired with a...

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On Discourse Programs

FALL 2025 September September 23rd - Conservatives v Reactionaries - On Discourse - The Tocqueville Center Pizza and Politics - Politics and International Affairs - On Discourse   October October 1st - Journalism: Who Needs It?...

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Civil Discourse: A Course Designed for Dialogue, Debate, and Deliberation

This spring, Dr. Elizabeth Smith will be teaching 'Civil Discourse,' a course designed to explore the meaning and implications of civility in American politics. Throughout the semester, students will consider the legal and normative foundations...

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Faith in Dialogue: Exploring Belief at the God? Forum

On Wednesday, November 13th, 2024, Catholic Campus Ministry and The On Discourse Initiative co-hosted their annual CLP, “God? Forum.” The event, held in the Younts conference center, was a discussion-based event, with a variety of...

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Disruptive or Our Rights: Exploring the Role of Student-Led Change on College Campuses

On November 21, 2024, the M.A. in Advocacy and Equity Studies program and the On Discourse Initiative at Furman University hosted a thought-provoking event titled "Advocacy: Disruptive or Our Rights?" The event delved into the...

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American Patriotism: Insights and Dialogue from the Tocqueville Center’s CLP Event

On Thursday, November 14, 2024, the Tocqueville Center and On Discourse co-hosted a CLP event titled “American Patriotism. Discuss.” Attendees immediately sensed this would be a unique experience. The event, held in the Hartness Pavilion, featured bar...

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Civil Discourse Requires Commitment and Action

In January, Furman University hosted several speakers to educate and enlighten our community on topics related to black history. At our Martin Luther King Community Breakfast, NPR's TV critic Eric Deggans helped us understand nuance...

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Bridging the Political Divide: Furman’s First Dialogue-Based CLP

On October 29th, the Riley Institute hosted Furman’s inaugural dialogue-based CLP, Bridging the Political Divide. The event is part of the 2024 StraightTalk series Politics in the Divided States of America. The program began with an...

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