Our Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Programs
Home Democracy 101 How Do I Vote? CLDE Resources Voter Registration Drives National Voter Registration Week Election Day 2018
Democracy 101: A Series of Critical Conversations
This series of co-curricular lectures, panel discussions and workshops focuses on the idea and practice of democracy.
We welcome faculty, staff, students and community partners to present. Possible topics may include: student activism, how to run for office, the history of social movements, democratic values, the idea of commons, student civic development, the role of media in a democracy, how to organize for social change, and more!
LIB 100/201 approved and pizza will be provided.
Have an Idea for a Democracy 101 Event?
Do you have a question about democracy, civic life or student democratic participation that you would like to explore?
Are you interested in presenting or facilitating a workshop or a conversation about a current public issue?
Do you have an idea or a project that promotes civic life and democratic participation that you would like to share?
If so, please submit your idea here!
Fall 2019 Events
|
Date |
Event |
Location(s) |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
09/18/2019 |
TBA |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
09/25/2019 |
TBA |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
12:00-1:00pm |
|
10/02/2019 |
TBA |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
10/09/2019 |
TBA |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
12:00-1:00pm |
|
10/16/2019 |
TBA |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
10/23/2019 |
TBA |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
12:00-1:00pm |
|
10/30/2019 |
TBA |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
11/06/2019 |
TBA |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
12:00-1:00pm |
|
11/13/2019 |
TBA |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
11/20/2019 |
TBA |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
12:00-1:00pm |
|
11/27/2019 |
TBA |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
12/04/2019 |
TBA |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
12:00-1:00pm |
Past Democracy 101 Events
Winter 2019 Events
|
Date |
Event |
Location(s) |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
01/23/2019 |
This is What Democracy Looks Like! Breaking the Silence and Living the Legacy of MLK Jr. This interactive open mic session will be dedicated to the expressing the living, democratic legacy of Dr. MLK Jr.! Participants are invited to express, discuss and share their ideas about "what democracy looks like" through spoken word, storytelling, performance, music, art, film and poetry. |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
02/13/2019 |
Democracy in Ancient Athens We're taught that the ancient Greeks "invented" democracy, but how did they organize and perform it? Join Dr. David Crane and Dr. Charles Pazdernik to learn how democratic norms and values were built into the fabric of life, institutions and interactions in ancient Greece and consider how we can use the example of the Greeks to build a more robust civic life today! |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
02/20/2019 |
Lessons in Democracy from South Africa Khulu Radebe worked to make his native South Africa a vibrant democracy for more than four decades. Professor Jeffrey Kelly Lowenstein will place Radebe's actions in the context of South Africa's emerging democracy and reflect on that nation's actions in light of the current authoritarian direction in which many countries appear to be going at the moment. |
Kirkhof Center 2266 |
12:00-1:00pm |
|
02/27/2019 |
What is Fascism? Learn about the various forms of fascism—the most serious threat to democracy in the 20th century—and what these threats all had in common from Dr. Gary Stark. |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
03/13/2019 |
Democracy as Thriving Democracy is grounded in the awareness and experience of a certain kind of relationship as the source of human thriving. In this session, Dr. Stephen Rowe will attempt to "unpack" or make sense of this statement as it pertains to us in the here and now at GVSU. |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
03/20/2019 |
Ethics Bowl 101 The Ethics Bowl Team, which competed nationally in Baltimore in early March 2019, will host Ethics Bowl 101. Participants will engage with the kinds of cases and discussions raised in the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl. Please join them for a conversation about why ethical discussions are valuable and vital to a thriving democracy, and for a workshop on tackling difficult ethical issues. |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
03/27/2019 |
An Interactive Presidential Experience Come out for a game night with your friends! Eat some pizza and challenge yourself to see how "civically savvy" you are. You will compete with others as the "President" for a chance to win over the "people"! |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
04/17/2019 |
Democratic Legitimacy: A Precarious Balance of Values The water crisis in Flint, MI, provides an important and poignant case study for considering competing values and the implications of Dr. Danny Balfour and Dr. Neal Buckwalter's research question: To what extent can democratic legitimacy be supported and maintained through bureaucratic means and authority? |
Kirkhof Center 2270 |
12:00-1:00pm |
Fall 2018 Events
|
Date |
Event |
Location(s) |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
09/12/2018 |
Who are We, as Americans? Watch and discuss "American Creed," a PBS documentary film about the values that hold us together as Americans—and what happens when those values come in to question. |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
09/19/2018 |
Promote the Vote: A Michigan Voting Rights ballot initiative Learn about the history and importance of voting rights in a democracy—then learn more about the Promote the Vote ballot initiative. |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
09/26/2018 |
Proposal 1: Should Marijuana be Legal in Michigan? Learn about Proposal 1 and discuss the pros and cons of marijuana legalization with representatives from MI Legalize and Healthy & Productive Michigan. |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
10/03/2018 |
Proposal 2: Drawing Lines, Gerrymandering & Independent Redistricting What is gerrymandering? Does your vote count? Should you care? Experts from the GVSU Department of Mathematics and Political Science, along with a representative from Voters Not Politicians will discuss Proposal 2. |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
10/10/2018 |
Making Your Voice Heard: A First Time Voter Workshop Are you a first time voter? What do you need to know in order to cast your ballot and make your voice heard? Join Ottawa County election officials to learn, step by step, how to be an educated and prepared voter. |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
10/17/2018 |
Are Elections Rigged? Election Security in 2018 Are threats to our elections real? Why does it matter? What are local election officials doing to ensure the integrity of the election process? The Ottawa County Clerk will answer your questions about election security. |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
|
10/24/2018 |
Laker Elected Officials Forum GVSU Lakers are making an impact all over the world! Come meet Lakers who are currently serving as elected officials or who have done so. Learn what it's like to campaign and serve in public office. |
Mary Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room |
6:00-8:00pm |
Do Protests Matter?
The Role of Media in Democracy
Human Rights and the Promise of Democracy
Educating Toward Direct Democracy
Hitler's Rise to Power
The Common Ground Initiative