A service-learning team from the University of Mississippi, in partnership with community members from Oxford and Lafayette County, invites anyone interested in collaborative problem solving to register their attendance for a debate and roundtable discussion on housing on the evening of April 7.
Unlike traditional debates that focus on winning, persuading, or attacking opposing viewpoints, this event will ask participants to think together, listen carefully to one another, and allow themselves to be touched—and perhaps changed—by each other’s ideas.
The evening will center on the following resolution:
Resolved: The partnership between Lafayette County, the City of Oxford, and the University of Mississippi deserves a good grade (A or B) for how it has addressed housing challenges while balancing the interests of students, employees, residents, visitors, and developers.
Based on the debate model developed by Braver Angels, participants are encouraged to support or oppose the resolution, or to admit that they are unsure where they stand. Attendees will be invited to ask questions when they disagree or do not fully understand and to think toward creative solutions rather than simple verdicts.
“This event is not about scoring points,” said Graham Bodie, professor in the Department of Media and Communication and co-organizer of the project. “It’s about creating space where people who care deeply about housing in Oxford—sometimes in very different ways—can listen to one another without caricature. We believe that changing the tone of our public discourse often begins with changing how we see those with whom we disagree. If we can disagree better, we can solve better.”
The evening will also allow attendees to interact with each other in roundtables where groups with different perspectives are guided through conversation prompts to connect and explore this critical topic. A working group made up of organizers and interested attendees will produce a summary narrative of what was discussed at the event, and anyone in attendance will be invited to participate in a follow-up event to create a final report with key recommendations. That report will be submitted to local policymakers, University of Mississippi administration, and City and County leadership.
The debate and roundtable discussion will take place Tuesday, April 7, during the ninth annual National Week of Conversation, at Oxford-University United Methodist Church, 424 S. 10th St., Oxford, MS. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CDT, with dinner provided. The debate will begin at 6 p.m., followed by roundtable discussions at 7 p.m. Children are welcome to attend with parents, and activities will be available throughout the event which will end promptly at 8 p.m. Registration is required.
The event is supported by the University of Mississippi Division of Student Affairs, Department of Media and Communication, Cissell Management Company, and LOU-HOME