Jim Leach's talk, "Civility in a Fractured Society," may be just what UC Davis needs, as the campus celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Principles of Community and in the wake of several violations of those principles.
Leach, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, happens to be in the midst of a 50-state "civility tour." So Chancellor Linda Katehi invited him to comed to Davis, to speak in the new Chancellor's Colloquium series.
Leach's talk is set for 11 a.m. April 8 in Freeborn Hall, with the entire campus community invited. The talk will be recorded for later viewing on the Web; look for the link at dateline.ucdavis.edu.
The former member of the House of Representatives, from Iowa, launched his tour last November. “The increasing use today of the vocabulary of cultural wars and secession is deeply troubling,” he said. “We have a unique national culture with a mosaic of subcultures. A critical question is whether we treat our many cultural differences with dignity and respect and as opportunities to grow and learn, or as divisive traumas worthy of warring over.”
UC Davis Priniciples of Community
Chancellor's remarks to the Board of Regents (Dateline, 4.2.10)
UC eyes diversity action in wake of hate
(Dateline, 4.2.10)
Media Resources
Dave Jones, Dateline, 530-752-6556, dljones@ucdavis.edu