Civility
ETSU Civility Week
Celebrating Civility and Discourse
March 28 - April 4, 2022
We are at a time in our country’s history where the immediate remedy to difference has become dispute - conflict for the sake of resolution has never worked and will never work. More than ever before, there is a need to capitalize on civil dialogue to reduce our political, cultural, and religious divisions.
The Civility Series was created to and empower each member of the ETSU community and
foster an inclusive environment that honors the diversity in our institution and our
surroundings through differences in race, gender, religion, socioeconomic status,
perspectives, abilities/disabilities, and more. We hope to provide information and
raise awareness around a diverse set of identities, ideas, and issues faced by people
that may have a different set of experiences from ourselves while encouraging civil
discourse and active engagement as we strive to enable social justice and unity in
the spaces that we occupy. Through listening to those who have different experiences
than us and through every thoughtful word we speak and action we take we can increase
our tolerance for, comfort with, and knowledge of viewpoints or ways of life that
may be different from our own to remind us that differences should be acknowledged,
respected, valued, and celebrated, rather than ignored or discouraged. This year’s
Civility Week initiative is being held in coordination with the ETSU Festival of
For more information, contact Joy Fulkerson at fulkersj@etsu.edu or (423) 439-6633
2022 Headline Speakers:
Full Schedule
Monday, March 28
Van Jones
CNN Host and Dream Corps Founder
Martin Center for the Arts, Grand Hall
7:30 p.m.
Beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 28, CNN host and Dream Corps founder Van Jones will give a talk at the ETSU Foundation Grand Hall in the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts. Tickets are required for entry to the event. Students, faculty and staff at ETSU can claim their free ticket by logging in to the ETSU ticket site. Community members will be able to purchase their tickets for $10 each beginning on Monday, March 14 beginning at 10 a.m.
Tuesday, March 29
A Higher Purpose: A Dialogue on Religious and Spiritual Identity and the College Experience
East Tennessee Room, Room 272, D.P. Culp Student Center
11:30 a.m.
During this event, student panelists from a number of faith and belief practices will respond to questions, sharing their personal experiences and perspectives on faith, spirituality and the college environment. It which will be located in the East Tennessee Room, room 272 in the D.P. Culp Student Center.
SGA Executive Candidates Debate
The Cave, Room 145, D.P. Culp Student Center
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Candidates running for executive positions within the Student Government Association will participate in a debate. The debate will be held in The Cave, room 145, in the D.P. Culp Student Center from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
BaFa'BaFa'
East Tennessee Room, Room 272, D.P. Culp Student Center
8 p.m.
BaFa'BaFa' is a cultural simulation that helps participants understand the powerful effects that culture plays in every person’s life by experiencing it themselves. It may be used to help participants prepare for living and working in another culture or to learn how to work with people from other departments, disciplines, genders, races, and ages.
Wednesday, March 30
David Plazas
Opinion and Engagement Director for USA TODAY Network in Tennessee
Martha Street Culp Auditorium, D.P. Culp Student Center
7:30 p.m.
On March 30, Opinion and Engagement director for the USA TODAY Network in Tennessee, David Plazas, will host “Lessons Learned from Civility Tennessee: A Toolkit for Healthier Living and a Better Civil Society.” The event is free and open to the public. It begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Martha Street Culp Auditorium in the Culp Center.
Thursday, March 31
Accessibility Walk
University Commons
2 p.m.
On Thursday, March 31, the Accessibility Walk event will begin at 2 p.m. at University Commons. This event will provide participants with an opportunity to increase their knowledge of the physical accessibility for people with disabilities on and around campus.
Meghan McCain
Political Commentator and Former Co-Host of The View
Martin Center for the Arts, Grand Hall
7:30 p.m.
At 7:30 p.m., Meghan McCain will give a talk at the ETSU Foundation Grand Hall in the Martin Center. Tickets are required for entry to the event. Students, faculty and staff at ETSU can claim their free ticket on ETSU’s ticket site. Community members will be able to purchase tickets for $10 each beginning on Monday, March 14, beginning at 10 a.m.
Monday, April 4
TEDx ETSU
The Cave, Room 145, D.P. Culp Student Center
7:30 p.m.
Civility Week and Festival of Ideas will wrap on Monday, April 4 with a TEDx ETSU event. The theme will be “Connection.” TEDx program helps communities, organizations and individuals produce TED-style events at the local level. They are planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis. The event will take place from 7-9:30 p.m. The live event will be located in the D.P. Culp Student Center Ballroom Right. Seating is limited, and a ticket is required for entry. A livestream location that is free and open to the public will be located in the Cave.
Most events are free and open to the public without reservation. Some events may require
ticket purchase. For more information, or to request accommodations for persons with
disabilities, contact the ETSU Office of Student Life & Enrollment at 423-439-4210 or students@etsu.edu.