Tennessee Voices, Episode 287: Gray Sasser and John Geer, Vanderbilt University
A challenge for institutions such as colleges and universities is finding a way to promote the search for knowledge, discovery of verified information and ideal of civil discourse during a time of deep polarization in America
Creating avenues for discussion about a variety of ideas and perspectives seems difficult, but efforts such as those at Vanderbilt's Project on Unity and American Democracy are making serious efforts and inroads.
On this episode of the Tennessee Voices video podcast, I spoke with Project Director Gray Sasser and John Geer, the Ginny and Conner Searcy Dean of the College of Arts and Science.
We discussed the art of disagreement, how there used to be broad agreement on the rules of game in politics, and why elevating the status of facts and evidence is so important today.
They shared their views on the role of the university in being a space for democratic renewal and welcoming diverse ideas.
The project is chaired by former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Pulitzer Prize winning historian Jon Meacham, and Millions of Conversations Founder Samar Ali and has produced programs featured speakers from different political parties and perspectives.
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About Tennessee Voices
The Tennessee Voices videocast is a 20-minute program, which started in March 2020 and invites leaders, thinkers and innovators who have written guest columns for a USA TODAY Network Tennessee publication to share their insights and wisdom with me and our viewers.
Please email your ideas for future guests to me at dplazas@tennessean.com. Thank you for watching.
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David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee and an editorial board member of The Tennessean. Tweet to him at @davidplazas.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Voices: Colleges and democracy with Gray Sasser, John Geer
