Beginning this fall, Queens will align its undergraduate academic calendar with Elon’s undergraduate calendar. The most notable change will be the reintroduction of Winter Term at Queens, a short, intensive session in January that allows students to focus on a single course or study abroad experience.

鈥淛-Term gave Queens students something rare 鈥� three weeks each January alongside our closest friends to discover who we were through service, career exploration, and international travel,鈥� said Queens alumna Staci McBride 鈥�92. 鈥淲e forged lifelong memories while living our motto, 鈥楴ot to be served, but to serve.鈥� I am thrilled that this transformative tradition will now be part of the student experience again, and I can鈥檛 wait to see the lasting bonds and impact it will have on their lives.鈥�

A highlight for many students is the intentional opportunity to study abroad in January. Both institutions have thriving study abroad programs, from Elon鈥檚 nationally ranked participation rate to .

鈥淛-Term gives students the opportunity to engage deeply in a single course, often in a global context, and to complement their learning in ways that are not possible during a traditional semester,鈥� said Nick Gozik, dean of global education at Elon. 鈥淓xpanding this approach to Queens creates a meaningful opportunity as the two institutions come together.鈥�

For LMA Alexander, executive director of the Pulliam Center for International Education at Queens, this new term brings fresh possibilities for JBIP. 鈥淭he John Belk International Program is a cornerstone of the Queens undergraduate experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淨ueens has a long tradition of dynamic, multi-disciplinary faculty-led programs, and the addition of J-term will create new opportunities for innovative programming in collaboration with our Elon colleagues.鈥�

In another integration move designed to expand opportunity for students, the two institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize a priority-admission pathway for Queens undergraduates to Elon鈥檚 School of Law. Both teams are actively working to share more details with students in the coming weeks.

J-Term gives students the opportunity to engage deeply in a single course, often in a global context, and to complement their learning in ways that are not possible during a traditional semester. Expanding this approach to Queens creates a meaningful opportunity as the two institutions come together.

– Nick Gozik, dean of global education at 福利亚洲国产精品

Evidenced through the service and experiential learning emphasized on both campuses, Queens and Elon share a commitment to civic engagement. This core belief will come to life through the Deliberative Citizenship Network (DCN), which recently invited both schools to join its inaugural cohort.

鈥淭he DCN highlights some norms or expectations that surround effective dialogues,鈥� said Naeemah Clark, associate provost for academic inclusive excellence at Elon. 鈥淎ctive listening, empathic and ethical discourse, and evidence-based argumentation are essential elements that are at the heart of a liberal arts education.”

Margaret Commins, chair of the political science, international studies and sociology department, shared, 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited about the opportunity to work with a national cohort to learn best practices for integrating deliberation into the curriculum and co-curriculum, and for working with our Elon colleagues to develop creative campus and cross-campus programming in this area.鈥�

The DCN program will bring together two faculty members, one staff member, and 10 students from each participating school. The program will teach best practices and innovative ideas that can be woven into and beyond the classroom. 鈥淪tudents who can demonstrate these skills will be better learners and leaders in their post-graduation lives,鈥� Clark added.

The Elon team will be led by Dillan Bono-Lunn, assistant professor of political science and public policy and faculty fellow for civic engagement; Bob Frigo, assistant dean of campus life and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life; and Andrew Moffa, assistant director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life.

The DCN participants won鈥檛 be the only ones working together this summer. With an expected June vote on the merger by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, many administrative departments at Queens are preparing to integrate effective July 1, 2026, officially becoming employees of Elon.

The first phase of integration brings new employee benefits 鈥� along with understandable questions from staff. To help ease the transition, Jeff Stein and Pamela Davies, co-chairs of the integration team, are holding coffee chats 鈥� open hours where any Queens employee can sign up to learn more about the process and ask their questions. The plan is to extend these coffee chats to Elon employees as well.

鈥淢ergers are hard work,鈥� Stein said. 鈥淵et it’s been exciting to see how collaborations across Queens and Elon have already produced new opportunities and pathways for students 鈥� an early signal of what becomes possible when we work together to build what students need next.鈥�

The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, awarded to a select group of U.S. colleges and universities, affirms 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 integration of community-based experiences into teaching, research and campus life.

The classification recognizes the university鈥檚 deep commitment to community and civic engagement, and it follows a recent U.S. News & World Report ranking naming Elon second in the nation for service-learning.

In her remarks at an afternoon reception in the Koury Athletic Center, Elon President Connie Book said the Carnegie designation reflects extensive and coordinated effort across disciplines and divisions. She noted that Elon has expanded community-engaged courses by more than 30% in the past decade, with faculty participation rising nearly 50%, and she highlighted partnerships ranging from local schools and health clinics to nonprofit and civic organizations.

Book described community engagement as 鈥渁 brave space,鈥� where outcomes are not always predictable, but where collaboration creates meaningful opportunities for students and partners alike.

As the university looks ahead, Book said, the designation sets a new benchmark for impact. 鈥淲e want to improve the quality of life for all people in our community,鈥� she added.

In welcoming remarks, Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley labeled the recognition 鈥渁 reflection of our strong collaboration between Student Life, Academic Affairs and community partners,鈥� and Associate Provost Jen Platania said the honor was one that acknowledges the intentional integration of community engagement into teaching and campus life.

鈥淚t reflects the work of faculty who designed meaningful community-based learning experiences,鈥﹖he staff who support sustaining those efforts, and community partners who collaborate with us in ways that enrich our students and strengthen our shared work,鈥� Platania said. 鈥淭his recognition belongs to all of you. It affirms the culture of engagement that defines Elon, where our students connect knowledge and purpose, and develop as thoughtful and engaged citizens.鈥�

During the panel, moderated by Jason Kirk, professor of political science and policy studies, each professor used their academic research to explain the 鈥渉ows, whys and whats鈥� of the war.

鈥淲e are in a very different media and political economy compared to a generation ago,” said Kirk, “and that will be the deciding factor of how we view and remember this conflict.”

Baris Kesgin, associate professor of political science and public policy, explained the Iranian political system in which religious authority and democratic practices play a part in governing society. Using graphs that outlined the political hierarchy, Kesgin emphasized the seriousness of the death of Iran鈥檚 Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and how Iran selected their new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

鈥淚ran is not completely a theocracy and not essentially a democracy,鈥� Kesgin said.

Thomas Kerr, assistant teaching professor of political science and public policy, discussed the U.S. military, noting that, although the United States has the largest military in the world, it does not have unlimited resources. Regardless, Kerr explained, even with fewer available resources to defend other bases, the United States has proven in previous conflicts to beat Chinese war technology that is being used by Iran currently.

鈥淭he more we [the United States] dedicate our resources in Iran, means that less resources that we can guarantee towards our other bases in, for example, Ukraine and Taiwan,鈥� Kerr said.

Chelsea Bediako, a political science & international and global studies major,聽 attended the panel to learn more about the conflict outside of what she was seeing in the news media.

鈥淚 am the type of person who information comforts me, for example, having a grasp on what鈥檚 going on and having less uncertainty makes me more comfortable, so I wanted to separate fact from speculation,鈥� Bediako said.

Geoffrey Claussen, professor of religious studies and the Lori and Eric Sklut professor in Jewish studies, spoke to the religious context of the war. He explained that although it is difficult to justify any war due to the human consequences, some ethicists use the criteria of the Just War Theory. This theory argues that for a war to be considered 鈥渏ust,鈥� it must be a last resort (following unsuccessful non-violent solutions), have a 鈥渏ust鈥� cause, must be produced from a valid authority, have a probable success, use only necessary force and must be fought fairly with minimal harm to non-combatants.

Claussen explained that the vast majority of the Israeli community supports this war, as they see Iran as an existential threat. In the U.S., Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Jason Husser noted that the American people are opposed, with recent polling showing 56% being against the war. Husser explained that these numbers can and will fluctuate as the conflict progresses, with the majority of Americans in the polls being against boots on the ground.

Ariela Marcus-Sells, associate professor of religious studies, covered the political and religious motives behind this conflict, including the unique societal view that Islam and, therefore, Iran is a threat to Western society. Marcus-Sells argued this is not a new concept, describing how in the 18th century, the idea of orientalism came from Western leaders of Europe seeing themselves as descendants of 鈥済reater society,鈥� in comparison to the East, including people who followed Islam. This belief only grew over the years with the creation of America, the misconception of terrorists being associated with Muslims and media coverage of Islamic religious conservatism as 鈥渟omething strange and oppressive.鈥�

Students were also able to ask questions of the panel. Mariama Jalloh, a public health major, came to the panel to listen to Elon鈥檚 faculty members鈥� opinions about the conflict and hear an academic perspective that was new to her

鈥淚 really appreciated Dr. Marcus-Sells and Dr. Kesgin explaining the landscape of the situation, both religiously and politically,鈥� Jalloh said. 鈥淭his panel gave students a platform to ask deeper questions that you wouldn鈥檛 hear on social media or the internet.鈥�

The classification recognizes the university鈥檚 deep commitment to community and civic engagement, and it follows a recent U.S. News & World Report ranking naming Elon second in the nation for service-learning.

鈥淲hile we are honored by the national recognition for excellence for service-learning, what matters most is the lasting impact that our students and faculty create through engagement in their communities,鈥� said Jon Dooley, vice president for Student Life and associate professor of education. 鈥淭he work prepares graduates who become thoughtful leaders, making meaningful contributions throughout their lives.鈥�

In announcing the recognition, leaders at the Carnegie Foundation emphasized the national importance of higher education鈥檚 role in community engagement.

鈥淗igher education is a vital economic engine for us all. Our colleges and universities not only fuel science and innovation, they build prosperity in rural, urban and suburban communities nationwide,鈥� said Carnegie Foundation President Timothy F.C. Knowles. 鈥淲e celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors 鈥� fostering civic engagement, building usable knowledge, and catalyzing real-world learning experiences for students.鈥�

Bob Frigo, assistant dean of campus life and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, said the significance of the recognition for Elon cannot be overstated.

鈥淎t a moment when the purpose and value of higher education are being debated across the nation, 福利亚洲国产精品 is recognized as a powerful example of what is possible when education is grounded in service to the public good,鈥� Frigo said. 鈥淭his recognition affirms what we see every day 鈥� when students, faculty, staff and community partners come together through community-based experiential learning opportunities, the results are transformative.鈥�

The as the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global). Collaboration is for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to:

• Enrich scholarship, research and creative activity
• Enhance curriculum, teaching and learning
• Prepare educated, engaged citizens
• Strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility
• Address critical societal issues
• Contribute to the public good

The Carnegie Foundation鈥檚 description guided the development of the university鈥檚 application, which highlighted how these principles are implemented across Elon鈥檚 campus.

Professor Phillip Motley, director of graduate programs for the School of Communications and former faculty fellow for community-based learning, partnered with Frigo to write the application, which illuminated the work of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, Center for Access and Success, Department of Human Service Studies, Poverty and Social Justice Minor, and Council on Civic Engagement.

The application also featured examples of campus-community partnerships, including:

• School of Health Sciences and Alamance Dream Center
• School of Law鈥檚 Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic and North Carolina
• Department of Health and Human Services State Refugee Office
• Department of Physical Therapy Education and HOPE Clinic
• Student Professional Development Center and Alamance County Chamber of Commerce
• Department of Engineering and City of Graham Recreation and Parks Department
• Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Alamance County Board of Elections
• Center for Access and Success and Alamance-Burlington School System
• Athletics and Allied Churches of Alamance County
• Project Pericles and the Sri Lankan non-governmental organization Sarvodaya
• Fraternities and Sororities and Habitat for Humanity
• Human Service Studies and Red Shield Youth Club
• Departments of Biology, Environmental Studies, Education and Wellness, Elon Academy, and Clean Haw River
• Poverty and Social Justice Minor and Mayco Bigelow Community Center
• Power and Place Collaborative and African-American Cultural Arts and History Center

Elon鈥檚 classification was awarded after an intensive self-study process and external validation by a range of community partners. The university was one of the first institutions in the nation to receive the initial community engagement designation in 2006 and was re-classified in 2015.

鈥淭he institutions receiving the 2026 Community Engagement Classification exemplify American higher education鈥檚 commitment to the greater good,鈥� said ACE President Ted Mitchell. 鈥淭he beneficiaries of this unflagging dedication to public purpose missions are their students, their teaching and research enterprises, and their wider communities.鈥�

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is the nation鈥檚 leading framework for categorizing colleges and universities. The community engagement classification has been the leading mark of national recognition for over two decades. A complete listing of the 277 institutions that currently hold the classification endorsement is .

The university plans to celebrate this recognition at a campus-wide reception on Friday, March 6, at 5 p.m. in the Koury Center Concourse after the March faculty meeting.

福利亚洲国产精品 福利亚洲国产精品

福利亚洲国产精品 is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture. At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business administration, business analytics, accounting, education, higher education, physician assistant studies and physical therapy.

福利亚洲国产精品 the Carnegie Classifications

The Carnegie Classifications are the nation鈥檚 leading framework for categorizing and describing colleges and universities in the United States. Utilized frequently by policymakers, funders, and researchers, the Classifications are a critical benchmarking tool for postsecondary institutions. ACE and the Carnegie Foundation announced a partnership in February 2022 to reimagine the Classifications to better reflect the diversity of postsecondary institutions and more completely characterize the impact that today鈥檚 institutions have in society.

福利亚洲国产精品 ACE

ACE is a membership organization that leads higher education with a united vision for the future —聽 galvanizing its members to make change and collaborating across the sector to design solutions for today鈥檚 challenges, serving the needs of a diverse student population, and shaping effective public policy. As the major coordinating body for the nation鈥檚 colleges and universities, its strength lies in its diverse membership of nearly 1,600 colleges and universities, related associations, and other organizations in America and abroad. ACE is the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities.

福利亚洲国产精品 the Carnegie Foundation

The mission of the Carnegie Foundation is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Enacted by an act of Congress in 1906, the Foundation has a rich history of driving transformational change in the education sector, including the establishment of TIAA-CREF and the creation of the Education Testing Service, the GRE, and the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education. The Foundation was also instrumental in the formation of the U.S. Department of Education and Pell Grants, and most recently in the use of networked improvement science to redress systemic inequities in educational opportunities and outcomes.

DeMarco, a human service studies major, started her engagement at Elon as a member of the Service Living and Learning Community. She continued to deepen her involvement as a Service Living and Learning Community coordinator and a leader of an alternative break experience to Asheville.

She has been involved in the Campus Kitchen program for several years now, initially as a farm shift coordinator, and now serves as director. DeMarco has been able to strengthen volunteer retention, along with an increased capability of harvesting more produce Loy Farm to help serve those experiencing food insecurity in Alamance County. She is also an advocate for service as the service chair for Elon鈥檚 chapter of Alpha Chi Omega.

鈥淢egan has an unbridled passion for service that is infectious to all those who participate with her,” said Abby Wiatrek, associate director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. “Her leadership style has a natural way of showing the humanity and humility needed when participating in service that makes others feel comfortable to ask questions to learn more about why the service that we are doing is important to our community.鈥�

North Carolina Campus Engagement is a collaborative network of colleges and universities committed to educating students for civic and social responsibility, partnering with communities for positive change, and strengthening democracy. The organization fosters connections between campuses, shares best practice information and resources, recognizes outstanding work, and champions civic and community engagement in higher education.

福利亚洲国产精品 alumna Natalie Allison 鈥�13, a White House reporter with The Washington Post, returned to campus Nov. 10 to reflect on her journey from The Pendulum newsroom to the national political stage. In an evening conversation in Turner Theatre with Professor Anthony Hatcher, chair of the Department of Journalism, Allison discussed the challenges and responsibilities of covering the presidency amid an increasingly polarized political landscape.

The evening event offered more than 75 students and community members an inside look at political reporting, accountability journalism, and the evolving media industry. Photos from Allison鈥檚 campus visit are .

Hatcher, who taught Allison as an undergraduate, praised her reporting and professional example. 鈥淣atalie is humble about her work, but she’s reporting on the U.S. president at a time of economic turmoil and political divisiveness in the country,鈥� Hatcher said. 鈥淪he is a fearless, ethical and talented reporter. As one of my current students told me, hearing from an Elon grad who is now a Washington Post journalist lets her know that she could do that, too. You couldn鈥檛 find a better role model for a young journalist.鈥�

Bob Frigo, assistant dean and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, added, 鈥淒uring her visit to campus, Natalie shared with us that the primary reason she wakes up each day is to hold our leaders accountable to the people. We need more journalists like Natalie to help us determine the truth and, in the process, restore our faith in government and the media.鈥�

Throughout the day, Allison met with students from Elon News Network, visited Instructor of Journalism Elma Sabo鈥檚 News Reporting and Writing class, and joined Assistant Professor of Political Science & Public Policy Brian Brew鈥檚 Campaign and Elections course to discuss the intersection of journalism and politics. She also shared lunch with a group of students, including Communications Fellows and student journalists, before sitting down for an interview with ENN.

Allison joined The Washington Post鈥檚 White House reporting team in January 2025. She began her journalism career at Elon鈥檚 student newspaper, The Pendulum, before reporting for the Burlington Times-News, The Tennessean and Politico. Her reporting has earned multiple honors, including the grand prize at the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Book and Journalism Awards.

Allison鈥檚 visit was sponsored by the School of Communications, Council on Civic Engagement, Department of Political Science & Public Policy, Political Engagement Work Group, Kernodle Center for Civic Life, and the Student Media Board.

The survey of 800 North Carolina adults from Sept. 23 to Oct. 1, 2025, followed the Aug. 22 fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a light rail train in Charlotte and coincided with a Sept. 27 mass shooting at a waterfront bar in Southport, N.C.

The poll found that 61% of North Carolinians were concerned for their safety in outdoor areas with large crowds, 59% are concerned about safety on public transportation and 53% are concerned about safety in public places, such as shopping malls. In addition, 49% are concerned about safety in K-12 schools and 32% are worried about safety in churches and places of worship.

When asked about specific North Carolina cities, 49% said they would be very or somewhat concerned about their safety if spending time in Charlotte or Durham, with about 42% concerned about safety in Winston-Salem, and 41% concerned about safety in Raleigh or Greensboro.

鈥淎fter high-profile violent incidents close to home, many North Carolinians are evaluating how safe they feel in the state鈥檚 major cities as well as everyday spaces, from schools to transit systems to shopping centers,鈥� said Jason Husser director of the 福利亚洲国产精品 Poll. 鈥淩epublicans tended to be much more concerned than Democrats about crime in the states鈥� large cities and on public transportation and in public spaces.鈥�

After high-profile violent incidents close to home, many North Carolinians are evaluating how safe they feel in the state鈥檚 major cities as well as everyday spaces, from schools to transit systems to shopping centers.

– Professor Jason Husser, director, 福利亚洲国产精品 Poll

Citing crime levels in some major U.S. cities, President Donald Trump has deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago and Memphis, and he is considering deployments in other cities. Use of the National Guard in a law enforcement capacity in American cities was opposed by 47% of North Carolinians and supported by 42%.

There has been disagreement over whether the National Guard should be deployed to Charlotte, N.C., after the city鈥檚 police union sent a letter to Trump asking for the Guard鈥檚 help in dealing with violent crime in the city. In response, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and several other local, state and federal elected leaders said the National Guard is not needed in Charlotte.

This survey found that North Carolinians lean against deployments of the National Guard to major cities in the state for law enforcement purposes:

Assessing Trump鈥檚 major motivations for using the National Guard in U.S. cities, 48% said a major motive for him is furthering efforts on immigration enforcement and 42% said a major motivation is to reduce crime. At the same time, 39% said the major motive for the deployments is to distract attention from other issues, 38% said a prime motive for Trump is setting a precedent for using the military for law enforcement and 35% said a major motive is that he is trying to embarrass political opponents in those cities.

鈥淣orth Carolinians are torn on the idea of sending the National Guard into cities within the state and across the country,鈥� Husser said. 鈥淭hey are torn between seeing the military as a necessary response to high profile crime and questioning the move鈥檚 true purpose and potential overreach. A narrow plurality leans against deployment into North Carolina cities, but opinions shift depending on the city. Support is very slightly stronger for the National Guard to police Charlotte and Durham, while opposition rises for Raleigh, Greensboro and Winston-Salem. The sharp partisan divide鈥擱epublicans are far more supportive than Democrats鈥攕hows that views on the Guard鈥檚 role are shaped as much by politics as by place.鈥�

Charlie Kirk assassination and free speech

As a result of the Sept. 10, 2025, killing of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, 68% of North Carolinians said they expect political violence to get worse over the next year, and 61% say relations between Democrats and Republicans will deteriorate. Majorities of supporters of both parties said they felt both problems will worsen.

Public comments about the Kirk assassination have raised questions about free speech in American society. In this poll, 34% of North Carolinians say people who make public statements that celebrate Kirk鈥檚 killing should lose their jobs, while 45% oppose that. A large majority (73%) of Democrats oppose firing people with job loss for celebrating Kirk鈥檚 death, while 65% of Republicans favor job loss for those who make those kind of public statements.

Asked if people should be fired for making public statements about Kirk鈥檚 beliefs if those statements do not celebrate his death, majorities of those in both parties said that should not happen. Still, 51% said they think freedom of speech rights are likely to deteriorate over the next year, with 17% saying speech rights will get better and 33% saying there will be no change.

Poll Methodology

Access the poll topline and methodology at www.elon.edu/elonpoll. The survey was developed by the 福利亚洲国产精品 Poll and fielded by the international marketing and polling firm as an online, web-based survey, self-administered with online panels. Between September 23 and October 1, YouGov interviewed 907 North Carolina adults aged 18 and older. These respondents were then matched down to a sample of 800 to produce the final dataset.

Throughout this report, the analysis of partisan differences compares the views of Republicans plus those who lean Republican in their voting preference with Democrats plus those who lean Democratic. The margin of error for this poll (adjusted for weights) is +/-4.24%.

福利亚洲国产精品 the 福利亚洲国产精品 Poll

Established in 2000, the 福利亚洲国产精品 Poll conducts national and North Carolina surveys on issues of importance to voters and residents. Information from these polls is shared with media, citizens and public officials to facilitate informed public policy making through the better understanding of citizens鈥� opinions and attitudes. The poll is fully funded by 福利亚洲国产精品 and operates as the neutral, non-biased information resource.

The 福利亚洲国产精品 Poll is a charter member of the聽Transparency Initiative, a program created by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) in 2014 to educate polling firms on ways to better share how they collect and interpret their information. The Elon Poll鈥檚 voluntary participation in this initiative signifies a willingness to clearly state in its reports how questions were asked, in what order, who funded the poll and then conducted it, and a definition of the population under study, among other details.

The event, Talking Across Difference: An In-the-Moment Dialogue, brought participants together in McKinnon Hall for roundtable discussions focused on questions about America, politics and polarization. Each group began by agreeing to a set of ground rules designed to foster respectful conversation.

鈥淭he challenges of the world around us inevitably reach our campus, highlighting the importance of how we engage with one another,鈥� said Dillan Bono-Lunn, assistant professor of political science and public policy and the faculty fellow for civic engagement. 鈥淗igher education should prepare students not only for careers but for citizenship, equipping us for dialogue, not division, and building the habits of listening and understanding that make democracy stronger. Events like this dialogue give our community a chance to practice those habits together.鈥�

The dialogue took place against the backdrop of recent political violence, including the killing of Charlie Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus.

鈥淲e are currently living in a divided nation and need to find a way to use dialogue instead of violence when we encounter difference,鈥� said Bob Frigo, assistant dean and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. 鈥淗igher education has a role to play in preparing students to engage in collaborative action with individuals with whom they disagree to advance the common good 鈥� our democracy depends on it.鈥�

For some Elon students, the event was their first opportunity to engage in this kind of structured dialogue

鈥淚 hope to just hear different perspectives about the tensions we hear in society today, especially with politics and how our views differ and how we can disagree respectfully,鈥� said Zach Feldman 鈥�29, a political science major. 鈥淓specially with regards to the Charlie Kirk killing, how we can honor a person who has divisive views but also honor his legacy of protecting the First Amendment and debating and having dialogue.鈥�

Madeline Mitchener 鈥�26, a double major in public health and public policy, attended with her professor and Periclean Scholars cohort.

鈥淚t was really great to have a lot of difficult talking points of how to disagree curiously, how to walk away when someone鈥檚 not creating a space where you can say things and disagree,鈥� said Mitchener.

Others reflected on the sense of connection that dialogue events help create across campus.

鈥淚 really love the sense of community these dialogues bring forth and it鈥檚 interesting to have so many different individuals and different opinions in the same room,鈥� said Olivia Peterson 鈥�26, a history major. 鈥淚 think engagement with everyone in the Elon community is very important and I think these dialogues open up a floor for everyone to come closer together in times like these.鈥�

Bono-Lunn and Frigo, co-chairs of the Council on Civic Engagement, encourage also encourage those who did not attend the dialogue to use the discussion questions and ground rules to facilitate their own formal and informal conversations.

Discussion Questions

1. When you think about living in America, what do you believe divides us? What unites us?
2. Polls show that the vast majority of Americans are tired of polarization and division. What can we do to decrease divisiveness in our nation?
3. What can we do to better understand those who think differently than we do? Why is it important to understand points of view that differ from your own?
4. Why do some people choose to resort to violence instead of using words? What actions can we take to reduce the use of violence and encourage dialogue?
5. What is one thing that you can do this fall to learn about a perspective different from your own?

Ground Rules

• Listen actively
• Participants are equal, regardless of status
• Respect one another鈥檚 views
• Seek to understand rather than persuade
• Speak from your own experiences instead of generalizing
• Respectfully challenge one another by asking questions
• Approach positions you disagree with through a lens of curiosity, not hostility
• Critique ideas, not individuals
• Speak to each other, not just the moderator
• Give permission to allow everyone to 鈥渟peak in draft鈥� (working ideas versus fully formed thoughts)
• Participate to the fullest of your ability

I鈥檓 currently reading 鈥淭he Fall of Israel鈥� by Dan Steinbock, which examines the geopolitical shifts in the region. For nearly two years, I鈥檝e prioritized understanding the Middle East 鈥� especially the Israel-Palestine conflict and Gaza crisis. I intentionally seek books offering Jewish perspectives to broaden my insight, and Steinbock鈥檚 analysis has been particularly illuminating given current events.

What is your favorite phone app?

My perhaps unexpected favorite app is TikTok. Over the past four years, I鈥檝e used it to create mini-lectures: first for online students in Bangladesh, and now as a platform for public scholarship. As a sociologist, I share my perspectives on current affairs. Its reach and engagement make it uniquely powerful for connecting with global audiences.

If you could invite someone from history to dinner, who would it be?

I鈥檇 choose Audre Lorde, the revolutionary poet and critical theorist. Though I鈥檝e taught about many sociological thinkers, her work 鈥� especially 鈥淪ister Outsider鈥� 鈥� resonates deeply with its intersectional focus on race, gender and power. Her wisdom on building solidarity across differences feels urgently relevant today, and I鈥檇 cherish the chance to discuss modern social movements with her.

What is your favorite place on campus?

Without question, McMichael 329: a tiered classroom with quirky technology and great sunlight. I鈥檝e taught there twice recently, and both classes developed extraordinary energy. Something about the room鈥檚 layout 鈥� perhaps the steep tiers or tight space 鈥� fostered incredible discussion chemistry. Despite its flaws, it鈥檚 where my students and I felt most collaboratively engaged, or, as they would say, 鈥渋t vibes.鈥�

In your work, what鈥檚 one moment that reminded you we鈥檙e all connected?

Our annual year-end sociology/anthropology department meeting. We openly share struggles about closing the semester 鈥� grading marathons, family responsibilities or teaching frustrations. Hearing colleagues laugh over universal academic chaos (like frantic emails or spilled coffee during finals) creates profound camaraderie. It鈥檚 a raw, funny reminder that our challenges bind us more than our titles do.

The Active Citizen Series is designed to cultivate the next generation of informed leaders who will help strengthen communities and shape our democracy. This series allows students to gain a deeper understanding of how government works and to develop the necessary skills to engage in civil discourse across political divides.

This event is sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, Elon Votes!, the Council on Civic Engagement and the Elon Political Engagement Work Group.