I often find it hard to sleep after chairing a Braver Angels college debate. The excitement from guiding the collision of highly charged, diverse viewpoints in the classroom or auditorium keeps me buzzing for hours. This energy explains why I began writing this essay late at night in my hotel room after leading a debate at UNC Greensboro last semester.
Launched in 2018, the national College Debates and Discourse program is a collaboration between Braver Angels, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), and BridgeUSA. These organizations believe in the power of free expression and respectful exchange of ideas on college campuses. As of the end of the spring semester in 2023, the program has conducted over 150 campus and classroom debates, engaging more than 6,000 students nationwide.
The students participating in these immersive, non-competitive debates—and especially those co-organizing them—are inspiring. They display courage, original thinking, deep listening, and compassion, embodying the dialogue that likely guided the creation of American democracy. At the UNC Greensboro debate, 45 students tackled the topic, “Should the North Carolina Senate approve measure SB49?”—the Parents’ Bill of Rights. This bill prohibits teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation through the fourth grade and requires schools to inform parents if students change their pronouns. The eloquence and scope of the students’ arguments moved me, as such debates represent democracy in action.
Professor Greg McAvoy, head of UNCG’s political science department, praised the debate, noting the students’ exceptional preparation and presentation. He highlighted the importance of the debate format in ensuring that everyone had a chance to speak and be heard.
The College Debates and Discourse (CD&D) program is gaining momentum as we refine our approach with each participating college and university. A seed grant from the Barnes Family Foundation supported debates at UNC Charlotte and North Carolina State University this past semester. UNC Charlotte students debated the regulation of social media content, while NCSU students discussed U.S. abortion policy. More public institutions in North Carolina are expected to join the program later this year.
Nationally, a key enabler has been the new Curricular Toolkit developed with and for faculty to integrate classroom debates into lesson plans. We also partner with students, giving them ownership of debate topics, speaker recruitment, and publicity. This approach fits seamlessly into their busy schedules.
The impact is profound. After a debate at Duke University, Professor Deondra Rose praised the rich conversation on free speech and related issues. Duke has since become a steady partner, incorporating a Braver Angels political polarization workshop into freshman orientation. At Denison University in Ohio, a series of debates for over 700 incoming freshmen had a significant impact, with students expressing a desire to carry the conversation forward in their lives.
Denison’s President Adam Weinberg emphasized the importance of challenging orthodoxy and learning from offensive statements. He believes that fostering a culture of open dialogue is crucial for students to take full advantage of educational opportunities.
To explore the long-term impact of these debates, Professor Lindsay Hoffman at the University of Delaware is working with our team on a research and evaluation project funded by the John Templeton Foundation. This two-year project aims to cultivate best practices and share findings with the higher education community.
The future looks promising for promoting free expression and civil discourse on campuses across America. We are excited to see our college program grow in North Carolina and beyond, and we are exploring ways to include local community participation in campus debates.
Doug Sprei is co-founder and director of the national College Debates and Discourse program, an alliance between the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, Braver Angels, and BridgeUSA.
