A Year of Civility

Election years are teachable moments on college campuses, where students are often in the midst of establishing their own opinions and building a political stance. Throughout the Fall 2024 semester, Vanguard University is hosting several student events, together known as the “Year of Civility”. This program is designed to foster thoughtful conversations and promote dignity, respect, and humility among students. Events include things like fireside chats, Bible studies, and leadership practicums to help build media literacy and promote respectful engagement.  
 
“The nature of our small campus lends itself to building meaningful community, and we want to see that community flourish, especially as we work through the tensions of an election year,” said Jess Van Winkle, assistant director of student development and success. “Our student leaders will be pressing into the picture of community in Ephesians 4:2 and learn what it means to “bear with one another in love” this year. 

A Posture of Learning

Vice President for Student Affairs Amanda Lebrecht is leading the charge for the program alongside the newly elected Student Government Association President Amberly Gourlay ’25. According to Lebrecht, Gourlay’s presidential campaign was a breath of fresh air. Instead of focusing on what was broken and needed to be fixed, she positioned herself as a student of those around her, seeking to learn from and unify various groups on campus. Her election campaign included five pillars: bearing witness to God’s glory, bonding the student body, boosting the voice of the student body, building an international student community, and bringing awareness to any pressing needs that may arise.

“I think the idea of conversation and elevating the students’ voices go hand-in-hand,” expressed Gourlay. “Understanding and recognizing that every student has a voice and a seat at the table, while also having this general theme of encouraging people to speak out and have an open dialogue—that’s something I’m super passionate about and excited for.” 

As an international student, Gourlay brings a unique perspective on politics to the table. While, admittedly, she came to the U.S. somewhat naive to the role that politics plays in conversations, the pride she has in her own country is steering her hope for driving out apathy and renewing a sense of initiative on campus. “One of the things [Amberly] talked about in her speech was about…how South Africa approached apartheid and how they used something that could be very contentious to bring the country together and solidify their commitment to one another,” Lebrecht said. “I think [her becoming SGA president] is kind of a ‘for such a time as this’ moment as well.” 

While the Year of Civility is not Gourlay’s primary focus, she sees it as a unique opportunity to hear and learn from her fellow students and be an example for fostering harmony on campus. Looking forward, Gourlay hopes that the experiences students have this year become the foundation for a lifetime of respectful civil engagement. “I want to encourage all students that they have a voice in any election year, that their vote matters, and that these things are important to discuss, but it doesn’t have to be an aggressive argument. It can be a healthy discussion and debate,” she said. 

Creating Opportunities to Engage

Lebrecht shared similar sentiments about the future of Vanguard’s student body, “I hope that it will help them to think critically and further develop their political ethics, and begin to think, ‘who do I want to be in these spaces? How do I want to show up in these spaces? What do I value?’” Perhaps more than ever, Vanguard students have an opportunity to be a light to others through the way they respond in politically controversial environments. Year of Civility events offer groundwork for building citizenhood, while the Vanguard community creates opportunities in and out of the classroom to engage in thoughtful, respectful conversation about current politics. 

Gourlay pointed out that, as students at a Christian university, Vanguard students have a responsibility to put God first, even in their political stances and conversations. “I really hope we have the narrative of seeking Him first and everything else comes second,” she explained. “Keeping him on the throne of our lives and recognizing that at the end of the day, we have that eternal hope.” 

The Year of Civility is intended to take place from the spring semester through November 5, 2024. Although many events are still in development, potential speakers include Eugene Cho, author of Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk, and Nathan Gonzalez ’00, editor and publisher of Inside Elections. Specific topics for discussion include recognizing bias, how to critically analyze news media and social media, migration and immigration, and more.