Elon Charlotte hosts Democracy and Disagreement event

Attendees discussed navigating elections, activism and finding community in a polarized political context.

Elon Charlotte welcomed political science and public policy professors Julianne Liebenguth and Matthew Young on Oct. 29 to speak to the current Elon Charlotte cohort of undergraduate students and members of the Elon community. The event, “Democracy and Disagreement: A Dialogue,” presented a series of interactive mini-dialogues about how to practice democracy across a variety of institutional and cultural spaces.

Julianne Liebenguth and Matthew Young
Elon Political Science Professors Julianne Liebenguth and Matthew Young

In small groups, attendees were asked to think about and discuss the following questions:

  • What gives you hope about the future of politics?
  • How does political disagreement feel?
  • What is the role of disagreement in democracy?
  • How can I learn to disagree better?
  • How are you participating in democracy in your life right now?
  • How might you participate in democracy in the future?

The event offered a safe space for students and community members to share their opinions and feelings about the upcoming elections.

If you are a faculty or staff member who is interested in hosting your own event at the Charlotte Campus, please contact Ashley Pinney apinney@elon.edu.