Sorry, but I disagree: Rules of politeness in the Phi-Eu debate

College Republicans and College Democrats faced off on the balconies of Philanthropic and Eumenean Halls, 19th-century buildings, debating societies at just such moments. This year’s students continued a 175-year tradition at Davidson College, and a crowd of more than 200 students, faculty, staff and community members gathered around them. Speakers and audience showed that they can still talk to each other despite the heated election season.

This year’s debate was integrated in a modification of the tried and tested standard format The Deliberative Citizenship Initiativewhich promotes constructive dialogue and participation in civic life. DCI moderators led short, small group conversations after each debate topic, allowing neighbors to share their own thoughts with one another.