1. Home
  2. Events
  3. Past Events

Past Events

  • Governor Youngkin addressed representatives from colleges and universities across the commonwealth during the Higher Education Summit on Free Speech and Intellectual Diversity on November 29, 2023. The Summit, organized by the Governor's office and the Virginia Department of Education, brought school leaders together to discuss the issue of free speech at universities and to brainstorm ideas for protecting intellectual diversity for faculty and students. You can read more about the summit in this article by UVA Today. Governor's Free Speech Summit. Think Again was pleased to assist the Governor's office in developing and hosting the Summit.

  • Drawing from his experience as a two-time world debating champion, Bo Seo conducted a student workshop on how to navigate disagreement constructively so that we can have enlightening and productive discussions on October 19, 2023. He began his talk, entitled “How to Disagree Better,” by encouraging members of the audience of nearly 100 to think carefully about the last time they had a serious debate with someone. After identifying several different ways such disagreements could have ended, Seo offered tools from the world of competitive debate that listeners could use during future disagreements to avoid hostility and engage in a productive discussion. Working through hypothetical disagreements proposed by Seo, audience members learned how to define the topic and construct an argument that includes answers to four basic questions commonly used by debaters. In addition to his interactive demonstration, Seo answered questions from Think Again’s Professor Mary Kate Cary, who moderated the event. During this discussion, Seo explained how we can start to apply his tools when we are willing to engage in “low stakes” disagreements. In doing so,we build skills and confidence to engage in more substantive disagreements. He also took many questions from audience members who were looking to learn more about how to apply these techniques to disagreements they have with family members and others in their lives. As he ended the session, Seo summed up the importance of constructive disagreements when he said that “debate is one of the skills we need to be citizens.”  After the talk, Seo signed copies of his book Good Arguments: How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard. His session was part of the Karsh Institute of Democracy’s Democracy 360 weekend, and was sponsored by Think Again and the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. 

​

  • ​What is the greatest strength of our democracy? Eight finalists in the annual UVA Student Oratory Contest took on this question with eloquence during their speeches before a live audience in the Dome Room of the Rotunda on Wednesday October 18, 2023. Their answers were as varied as the contestants themselves, as each one highlighted a different aspect of the uniquely American experiment with democracy. The five-minute speeches contained poignant personal stories, instructive histories, and humor. Responses included the structure of our government, the peaceful transfer of power, public education, the spirit of our people, and even our penchant for dissent and conflict. The judges panel consisted of four former Presidential speech writers and the winner of last year’s contest. They praised the contestants for their efforts and offered constructive comments before announcing Peter Lee Hamilton as the winner. Hamilton, a graduate student completing the JD/MBA program, received a $500 prize and is invited to return as a judge for next year’s competition. Watch his speech here. 2023 Student Oratory Contest Winning Speech  Other finalists included Ryan Conn, Thomas Davies, Nahor Hagos, Kellen Narke, Kyle Riopelle, Reese Whittaker, and Deanna Wilbourn. The UVA Student Oratory Contest is an annual event. This year it was sponsored by Think Again@UVA, Karsh Institute of Democracy, Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, University Democrats and College Republicans.  

 

​ ​

  • Strengthening free speech on UVA Grounds was the topic of a speech by Professor Mary Kate Cary at the Colonnade Club on Oct. 12, 2023. In her speech, which was attended by faculty, staff, and community members, she reviewed the state of free speech at the University. In the latest College Free Speech rankings by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), UVA comes in 6th for having the most open environment for free speech. Professor Cary dissected the research behind that ranking and demonstrated that there is still work to be done to maintain and improve an open environment for students and for faculty. After explaining the importance of free speech and viewpoint diversity in an academic setting, she highlighted current student organizations at UVA that promote open inquiry. She suggested several steps that the administration, faculty, and students can take to improve opportunities for the free and peaceful exchange of ideas in classrooms and on Grounds. Among her many suggestions: calling for the faculty senate and student council to endorse UVA’s Statement on Free Expression; adoption of a policy of institutional neutrality on political issues; free speech orientation for incoming faculty and students; and more co-teaching by professors of opposing viewpoints, especially in Politics classes. After Professor Cary’s remarks, she fielded a variety of questions and addressed concerns from members of the audience about the issue. Her presentation was part of Our Uncommon Grounds speaker series hosted by the Colonnade Club. Read the full transcript of Professor Cary's speech here. 

​​​

  • On November 9, 2022 at the Old Parkland Debate Chamber in Dallas, Texas, Think Again director Mary Kate Cary joined a panel discussion entitled, "Speaking of Free Speech: Building a Culture of Viewpoint Diversity on College Campuses." Panelists included UVA Professor Gerard Alexander, director of the Blue Ridge Center, and Professor Ilana Redstone, director of the Mill Institute at the University of Austin. A lively conversation about concrete steps universities across the nation can take to create viewpoint diversity was moderated by Drew McKnight.

​​​

  • On November 3, ten student finalists wrote and delivered short speeches answering the question, "Is Free Speech Important at a Public University in our Democracy -- and Why?" The competition was held in the Dome Room of the Rotunda, and judges included former presidential speechwriters Clark Judge (Reagan) and John McConnell (Bush 43) and Politics Department chair Jen Lawless, who filled in for former presidential speechwriter Kyle O'Connor (Obama), who was ill. The winner, third year Government major Jered Cooper, won a $500 cash prize. The Oratory Contest was sponsored by Think Again, the Politics Department Honors Program, the Karsh Institute of Democracy, the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, the College Republicans and the University Democrats. Click to view the highlights reel.

​​​

  • Below is the full transcript of Cooper’s speech, titled "A Remedy to Save America." "In these difficult years, America has suffered from a fever of words; from inflated rhetoric that promises more than it can deliver; from angry rhetoric that fans discontents into hatreds; from bombastic rhetoric that postures instead of persuading." Watch this Video

​​​

  • No contrast highlights the importance of speech and other rights like that between authoritarian rule and democracy. Otto Warmbier was a UVA student on an academic trip when he was seized and abused by North Korea’s dictatorship. Five years ago, he died in a coma. On April 28, 2022, Think Again invited Otto’s parents and Theta Chi fraternity brothers; Yeon-Mi Park, the most prominent North Korean defector living in America; and UVA law professor Sai Prakash, who discussed where our basic rights come from and how they should and can be protected. Watch the video here

​​​

  • A case study in the value of free speech: Only a few decades ago, it was consensus medical opinion that same-sex attraction was a mental illness. Fortunately, dissenting voices were free to challenge and change this. Think Again brought to Grounds a film-maker and his new, prize-winning documentary, “Cured,” for a public screening, a conversation with the director, and then a dinner with interested students from the medical school. https://www.cureddocumentary.com

​​​