(foreground, l-r) Faculty members Joshua Rosenbloom, economics; Joan Chamberlin, English; and John Monroe, history, huddle during an ethics bowl practice exercise Wednesday during the Cyclone Civics professional development conference at the Memorial Union. A team from the philosophy and religious studies department introduced the ethics bowl model as a way to teach skills such as respect, listening and fair dialogue. Photos by Christopher Gannon.
More than 130 faculty and staff registered for Wednesday's Cyclone Civics professional development event at the Memorial Union. The afternoon focused on civics instruction across academic disciplines as well as in extra-curricular opportunities for students. It also served as a first opportunity to "take stock" -- to see how comfortable faculty, instructors and non-teaching staff are with the topic.
The half-day event opened with a keynote talk by Frederick Lawrence, secretary and CEO of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and a distinguished lecturer at Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. Lawrence presented civics education and free expression as the "twin commitments" of higher education in the U.S.
The conference is part of a new multi-year effort, Cyclone Civics, which addresses the Iowa Board of Regents' 2023 directive #9 that each university establish a "widespread initiative that includes opportunities for education and research on free speech and civic education." The initiative is based in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with direction from political science faculty Karen Kedrowski and Kelly Shaw.
Cyclone Civics would like to co-sponsor events and high-impact student experiences that promote one or more aspects of civic education and free expression. Co-sponsorship request forms are online.
Matthew Pollard of Unify America (standing) was one of three professionals working in public or civil discourse who led a breakout session Wednesday during the Cyclone Civics professional development conference at the Memorial Union.
