Lisa Perhamus, director of the Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil
Discourse, stands by the podium while a participant at
the Post-Inauguration Reflection event asks a question.
Nearly 100 students, faculty and staff attended the Post-Inauguration
Reflection event February 5 in the Kirkhof Center.
Lisa Perhamus, professor of interdisciplinary studies and director of
the Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse, co-facilitated the
conversation with Laura Schneider, associate professor of political science.
Perhamus said the support for the event demonstrated a shared
interest in finding constructive and productive ways to engage in
conversation, regardless of how people voted.
"Many students have grown up amidst political infighting where
shouting matches and name calling is commonplace," Perhamus said.
"It can be difficult to trust that dialogue across differences is
possible. One hope for this campus conversation was that it
contributed to building trust in these divided times."
The event was co-sponsored by many campus departments: Padnos/Sarosik
Center for Civil Discourse, Geography & Sustainable Planning,
Political Science, GVSU Votes!, Women's Commission, Student Senate,
Black Faculty & Staff Association, and Asian Faculty & Staff
Association. The student organization "Connections Through
Conversation" assisted.