Name
Reaching the Reluctant: Curious Disagreement Skills for Every Student
Date & Time
Monday, March 16, 2026, 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
Location Name
Columbian
Session Type
Knowledge-to-Action Workshop
Description

In a time of campus polarization, many dialogue efforts reach only students already committed to civil discourse. The Viewpoints Project takes a different approach: equipping student leaders to embed civil discourse tools—like active listening, intentional questioning, and emotional regulation—into the clubs and communities they already lead. This interactive session will model this peer-led, research-based framework for fostering cultures of curious disagreement without an intrinsic commitment to viewpoint diversity. Participants will learn techniques for helping students navigate disagreement with compassion and curiosity, reflect on the unique challenges of their own campus contexts, and leave with concrete strategies to build a culture of civic engagement across student life and academic spaces.