.Viewpoint Diversity Challenge 2023�Unsettling our Thinking:�How will we dive into sensitive topics this year? .

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. A PLACE TO START .

“I went to college to learn from my professors and peers. I welcomed an environment that champions intellectual diversity and rigorous disagreement. Instead … students of all political persuasions hold back — in class discussions, in friendly conversations, on social media — from saying what we really think. … I sometimes feel afraid to fully speak my mind.”

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- Emma Camp, Student at the University of Virginia, 2022

Why is it important for us to be able to talk freely about things that matter?

ANONYMOUS POLL 1: What issues do you feel nervous to talk about?

ANONYMOUS POLL 2: Why is it so hard to talk about these things?

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. ECHO CHAMBERS AMPLIFY OUR FEAR .

. OF BEING JUDGED .

Sourced from: Urban, Tim. Wait, but Why? (https://waitbutwhy.com/wop-ch-1-excerpt)

. ECHO CHAMBERS THRIVE ON CERTAINTY .

Settled Thinking

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When we treat open questions as though the answers are known and that the path forward is obvious and has no downside.

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E.g. “Giving schools more money would obviously make education better for everyone.”

Source: Redstone, Ilana. Breaking Out of the Certainty Trap

. GROUND RULES .

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1. Seek out multiple, conflicting perspectives. We are seeking a volume of ideas, not a consensus. Offer ideas even if you do not personally agree with them.
2. No ideas are off the table, ignored, or untouchable. No idea is exempt from criticism or questioning.
3. Treat others as individuals. Remember that no single person speaks for their identity group.
4. Choose the most generous possible interpretation of what the other person says. A commitment to challenging our thinking requires the persistent willingness to question our assumptions.
5. Everyone gets a do-over. We all get the chance to clarify our statements or questions.

. LET’S PRACTICE UN-SETTLING SOME THINKING .

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1. What facts, narratives, or conclusions are people on the Right treating as “settled” or obviously true in this story?
2. What facts, narratives, or conclusions are people on the Left treating as “settled” or obviously true in this story?
3. What values do you think the Right is working to protect? Regardless of your personal view, try to put yourself in the shoes of the people making these arguments and answer in good faith
4. What values do you think the Left is working to protect? Regardless of your personal view, try to put yourself in the shoes of the people making these arguments and answer in good faith

. LET’S PRACTICE UN-SETTLING SOME THINKING .

If you were to give one piece of advice to each side in this political debate to help them better understand one another, what would it be?

. HOW CAN WE CHALLENGE OUR .

. OWN SETTLED THINKING? .

Partner Exercise

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1. One personal action I want to take to challenge my own settled thinking throughout the year is _____________________
2. One action we could agree to as a class to challenge our settled thinking as a group is ________________________