The University of Arizona’s Center for the Philosophy of Freedom (“the Freedom Center”), in partnership with the Museum of Democracy and the Arizona Board of Regents’ Presidential Project, launched the exhibit “You Say You Want a Revolution: Politics and Art in the 1960s” with a captivating discussion on civil disagreement “Civil Disagreement, Protest, and the American Republic”.
The Freedom Center welcomed renowned thinkers Dr. Cornel West, a philosopher and independent presidential candidate, and Dr. Robert George, director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University, and National Review Senior Editor Jay Nordlinger, to Wildcat country for a day of events.
The day began with a welcoming dialogue with President Suresh Garimella, who shared insights into his longstanding commitment and actions to fostering civil discourse among students, a mission closely aligned with the goals of the Freedom Center.
Jay Nordlinger then hosted a podcast recorded at the Freedom Center where Jay queried George and West about how they maintain their strong friendship while discussing their different viewpoints and positions, and why they encourage deep thinking and reasoning out loud. This discussion, is available as a podcast on Spreaker titled “The Cornel & Robby Show,” can be found here.
Interim Provost Ronald Marx launched the live discussion by highlighting the university’s commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom. He emphasized the importance of these principles in guiding the university’s actions, policies, research, and teaching.
We were grateful to have Representative Matt Gress, a member of the Arizona House of Representatives representing District 4, with us for the evening and as a parter in this collaboration. Representative Gress, along with the Arizona Board of Regents, has been instrumental in helping launch the Presidential Project to help us foster a deeper understanding of the American presidency and the electoral process. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, he supported initiatives during the last legislative session that invested in programming like this event.
Freedom Center Director Mary Rigdon acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the Freedom Center staff, the Museum of Democracy, and the Arizona Board of Regents in launching the exhibit. She highlighted the exhibit’s alignment with the Freedom Center’s mission of fostering a vibrant university environment that encourages open and honest conversations. Rigdon emphasized the importance of the exhibit and related events as platforms for engaging with challenging questions about freedom and democracy.
Jay started the discussion with a weighty question to Drs. George and West: “What is democracy and what does it mean?” You’ll have to watch the YouTube replay to hear their answers! As the discussion moved along, they emphasized the importance of respectful dialogue across differing viewpoints, the need for intellectual humility, and the unique role of college campuses as spaces for both intellectual exploration and civic engagement. They also delved into how campuses can foster a culture of critical thinking, civil discourse, and responsible activism.
You can read Jay’s article about this event in the National Review here.
George and West have a book coming out early next year called “Truth Matters: A Dialogue on Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division”; order your copy if you are interested in learning more about this topic!
We invite you to view this engaging exhibit in person which runs from September to March where you will see featured items from the world’s largest collection of historical and political campaign memorabilia. It is available for viewing on the lower level of the Campus Store at the Student Union Memorial Center.
The Freedom Center will host several events throughout the year related to the exhibit, including a discussion with former Obama aide Johanna Maska and former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer. Register here for this next event!
