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Virginia Military Institute outlines civil discourse program, schedules Sept. 21 workshop
Summary
Faculty and cadet presenters from Virginia Military Institute described the Civil Discourse Initiative’s debate series, ABCD (Braver Campus Dialogue) workshops, trainings and community partnerships, and invited the Board of Visitors to an ABCD workshop on Sept. 21. Presenters said they use structured formats and have begun using AI to consolidate workshop notes for follow-up reporting.
Colonel Sarah Whipple, a psychology professor and member of Virginia Military Institute’s Civil Discourse Initiative, told the Board of Visitors that the program trains cadets to engage across disagreement and fosters what she called “a respectful, constructive, intentional way of communicating aimed at fostering understanding, especially on contentious issues.”
The initiative, Whipple said, runs Braver Angels-style debates, Braver Campus Dialogue (ABCD) workshops focused on solutions, trainings for faculty and cadets, and smaller "food for thought" lunchtime conversations that pair students with faculty. The presenters invited the board and community to an ABCD workshop scheduled for Monday, Sept. 21, intended to address how the corps can foster integrity rather than mere compliance.
A presenter described the debate format as…
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