Part 3: Civil Discourse

This is the third installment of the NDSU Citizenship Series.  Being a citizen of a place, community, state, and country, all come with different expectations, privileges, and responsibilities.  As a student, we hope that you will choose to find ways to actively engage in your citizenship of the NDSU community, and in the broader community and your residential state and country.  In order to engage in citizenship, you need information about your role, the environment, and the rules and opportunities within your role and the environment.  Today’s message will focus on Civil Discourse.

Conflict, disagreement, and differences of opinion are all a part of life. While being in conflict or disagreement may create feelings of stress or anxiety for some, neither need to be inherently negative.  In fact, there is often opportunity to enhance understanding of another’s perspective, learn more about a topic, and engage in new ways with others.  

Civil discourse is a communication method that employs the element of respect to work toward understanding, trust, and shared values or common ground with others (even if we don’t change our opinions).  The University setting is a wonderful environment to practice building the skill of civil discourse.  Campus life includes many opportunities to communicate about topics that may create controversy or division- both in and out of the classroom.  As you navigate your time at NDSU, keep the following tips in mind when discourse opportunities present to maximize productive interactions with others:

• Be respectful: Refrain from personal attacks, name-calling, and accusatory language
• Be open-minded: Listen to others’ opinions with curiosity
• Be considerate: Give time and space for opposing voices, opinions, and experiences without interrupting
• Be willing to compromise: Look for common ground on shared values or facts
• Know when to walk away: It’s ok to leave a discussion if it becomes too uncomfortable or unproductive

If you need assistance navigating challenging conversations or a space to process communication exchanges, please reach out to the Dean of Students Office, Counseling Center, or another trusted staff and faculty member.  

As this series concludes, please remember that Tuesday, November 5^th is Election Day!  We encourage every eligible voter to be heard at the local, state, and national level.

Part 2: Vote and Be Herd!

This is the second installment of the NDSU Citizenship Series.  Being a citizen of a place, community, state, and country, all come with different expectations, privileges, and responsibilities.  As a student, we hope that you will choose to find ways to actively engage in your citizenship of the NDSU community, and in the broader community and your residential state and country.  In order to engage in citizenship, you need information about your role, the environment, and the rules and opportunities within your role and the environment.  Today’s message will focus on Voting.

You are likely aware that 2024 is an election year.  For many of you, this year is also the first time that you are eligible to vote in a state or national election.  The right to vote is both a privilege and responsibility of citizenship, and we want every eligible student to be able to exercise that right.  In order to vote, there is important information to understand.  Information will depend upon which state you live in, and there is additional information that may be relevant if you are a student who is living away from your home community or state.  The North Dakota and Minnesota Secretary of State sites have great information on voting.  Many other voting resources exist to inform individuals from any state, including Vote.gov, Rock the Vote and Vote 411.

Next week, the Student Activities Office will launch a week-long campaign ‘Be Herd, Vote.’  This event will include a poster display and tabling that highlights non-partisan information about voting as a college student, registering (if applicable), and absentee ballots.  If you are unsure of where or how to vote, please swing by to gain the information you need to adhere to any deadlines, ensure proper paperwork and identification, and to ask general voting questions.

As an institution, our hope is to help every eligible student voter access the information they need and to BE HERD!

Part 1: Freedom of Speech

In honor of Constitution Day, a three part NDSU Citizenship Series is launching out of the Dean of Students Office today.  Being a citizen of a place, community, state, and country all come with different expectations, privileges, and responsibilities.  As a student, we hope that you will choose to find ways to actively engage in your citizenship of the NDSU community.  In order to engage in citizenship, you need information about your role, the environment, and the rules and opportunities within your role and the environment.  Today’s message will focus on Freedom of Speech. 

It’s inevitable when living in a community and interacting with others, that people will encounter differences of opinion.  This is a normal part of being human!  Everyone has different backgrounds, experiences, and ways of looking at the world and the issues within it.  The ability to freely discuss and debate ideas is a foundational piece of University life.  This can be uncomfortable at times, because of the level of disagreement you may have with others, or how hurtful or harmful you feel that their ideas and expression may be.  When this occurs, a first instinct may be to look to NDSU (or others in authority) to intervene or to silence the expression taking place.  It's important to know in most circumstances, not only is it illegal for NDSU to do, it is also often just not the best way to respond.

By law, as a public state-supported institution, NDSU cannot punish students or employees for protected speech.  Almost all speech is considered “protected speech”, including speech and expression that many may find offensive, unacceptable, hateful, or harmful.  This can be challenging to understand, as protected speech can be directly contradictory to NDSU’s values of collegiality, community, and inclusion.  However, NDSU is required to remain content neutral to protected speech.   It is important to know that NDSU will respond appropriately to reports of unprotected speech (things like serious expressions of intent to harm, discriminatory harassment, and other definitions related to law).  NDSU also can restrict the time, place, and manner of protected speech, expression, and events in ways that protect physical safety and effective operations of the University (e.g. speech/events can’t interrupt a class in session or violate policy regarding fire code/facility operations).  This means if you have a specific event, rally, or speaker you wish to have on campus, you’ll likely want to learn more on our website about how to plan an event that is in alignment with NDSU policy.

NDSU works hard to both protect the right to engage in protected speech while also providing an educational environment in which all members can learn.  This means that even as others have the right to engage in speech you find objectionable, you have the right to express your ideas about that speech.  Rather than censor or inhibit individuals from engaging in protected speech, more free speech and open discussion is the way to allow yourself and others to learn from each other and either deepen or question your beliefs and ideas!  Our office has recently enhanced our website with resources for community members with questions about engaging in speech, including suggestions on how to navigate those situations when they arise.  Freedom of speech means that you have the freedom to choose to engage in protected speech when confronted with these opportunities, or to choose not to participate by removing yourself from the situation.

Finally, although everyone has a right to expression, we encourage you to consider how one chooses to communicate often influences how your message is heard and received. A great lesson in citizenship is that people can disagree and still build positive relationships with one another.  And, we can learn more about ourselves and others when we allow our beliefs and ideals to be compared with others through respectful dialogue.