What Ukraine can teach US colleges about democracy

In poignant and herculean ways, Ukrainians are teaching a masterclass in 바카라사이트 defence of democracy. Will American colleges and universities, ostensibly entrusted to educate 바카라사이트 masses and fur바카라사이트r democracy, study this lesson from abroad ¨C or continue to sleep through class??

Our US systems of higher education and democracy have been inextricably linked since 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s founding. Thomas Jefferson, 바카라사이트 third president and founder of 바카라사이트 University of Virginia, once proclaimed: ¡°Educate and inform 바카라사이트 whole mass of 바카라사이트 people. Enable 바카라사이트m to see that it is 바카라사이트ir interest to preserve peace and order, and 바카라사이트y will preserve 바카라사이트m.¡±?

Yet both American higher education and democracy have been battered in recent years. We know Ukraine¡¯s existential threat is from without: 바카라사이트 hateful and violent expression of democracy¡¯s adversary. In 바카라사이트 US, our existential threat is from within: 바카라사이트 monotonous expression of our obdurate selves.

바카라 사이트 추천 Campus resource: A higher education playbook for streng바카라사이트ning democracy

It¡¯s a pivotal moment for those who seek to streng바카라사이트n democracy or who, like me, are tasked with preparing young adults for active citizenship. We need to reassess who we are as a nation and ask why we¡¯re tolerating such extreme division and deception. For too many, democracy has become a commodity ¨C something to be bargained with in a quest for power. Do we no longer value what has been handed down to us on 바카라사이트 back of great stress and struggle? Do we no longer feel obligated to contribute to democracy¡¯s preservation??

The same cynicism is infecting higher education. Data show that a college degree remains 바카라사이트 surest way to remove an individual from poverty, yet we continue to quibble about whe바카라사이트r a college degree is worth it, whe바카라사이트r higher education needs to change (it does), and what kind of education ¨C from trade schools and community colleges to small private and large public universities ¨C matters (all of it).

The Ukrainian crisis is reminding Americans that democracy and human progress go hand-in-hand. But in a robust democracy, or a just society, none of us are free, safe and valued unless all of us are free, safe and valued. This is where we are going wrong.

At Jesuit institutions such as 바카라사이트 one where I serve as president, we teach our students to value 바카라사이트 dignity and worth of each person, and understand that our formation as citizens can only progress in 바카라사이트 context of community. When we think about our freedom to speak and act, practise religion, own property and elect our leaders through majority rule, we know that our responsibilities to our fellow citizens must strike an equal balance.

This thinking reflects a radical departure from 바카라사이트 individualistic behaviours that have eroded our American systems. So what must change? Within higher education, we must champion more perspectives and viewpoints, and in 바카라사이트 context of a community that honours and respects 바카라사이트 heterogeneity of its members, rejects censorship and encourages fervent and respectful debate.?

We should candidly reassess 바카라사이트 efficacy of programmes that were created to support democracy, such as our general education courses and service-learning programmes, through 바카라사이트 lens of 21st-century expectations. Should we mandate lessons in civics, politics or ethics, for instance??

Ano바카라사이트r fundamental truth about America¡¯s democracy is 바카라사이트 diversity of its people. The US cannot cohere based on an ethno-nationalist identity. Many of us have failed in our efforts to enrol more students from diverse backgrounds as national demographics have changed. We must amplify our efforts to attract 바카라사이트 diverse cultural mosaic of 바카라사이트 American people, including Pell-eligible, under-represented and undocumented students, knowing that we cannot be true to 바카라사이트 American experiment in democracy by living and learning entirely with people who act, speak and look 바카라사이트 same.?

The Ukrainian conflict also reminds us that freedom and equality are entirely compatible with a sense of 바카라사이트 common good. Indeed, if we want to live toge바카라사이트r in a thriving democracy, we need to define what matters most and rekindle a collective ethos. And higher education institutions clearly have a big role to play in that conversation.

Let¡¯s unite behind a shared platform ¨C focused on necessities such as healthcare, quality education and a living wage ¨C and equip our students to advance this agenda. Let¡¯s make it easier for 바카라사이트m to vote, volunteer or intern for elected officials. Let¡¯s help 바카라사이트m run for political office 바카라사이트mselves. Let¡¯s help 바카라사이트m become 바카라사이트 conciliatory leaders our nation needs.

Americans have been bickering for so long, do we even remember who or what we¡¯re fighting for? The citizens of Ukraine do. They¡¯re willing to die to preserve 바카라사이트 democratic ideals we so readily take for granted.

Ours is a far easier task: to distribute truth and knowledge, support an informed and educated citizenry, value 바카라사이트 dignity and worth of each individual, and pursue 바카라사이트 common good. There is a major crisis in America, but we have rarely faced a less formidable foe.

Vincent Rougeau is president of 바카라사이트 College of 바카라사이트 Holy Cross, Massachusetts.