Braver Angels College Debates and Discourse Program Research Grant

Funder: John Templeton Foundation (via Braver Angels nonprofit organization)

Geographic Scope: One of 10 colleges nationwide; VMI in Lexington, Virginia

A two-year research grant from Braver Angels, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting civil discourse. VMI was designated as one of only 10 colleges in the nation to be named a "Community of Practice" in the College Debates and Discourse Program.

Program Purpose

Braver Angels' trained experts teach students to:

• Express their views
• Frame persuasive arguments
• Listen deeply
• Engage respectfully with each other around issues that are typically difficult and divisive

Debate Format

Philosophy: Debates are not competitive but rather a collective exercise in thoughtfulness, respect, and a search for the truth

Structure:

• Conducted in light parliamentary style
• Guided by a trained chairperson
• Each debate centers around a resolution chosen in advance
• Each speaker has up to four minutes to present argument
• Speakers answer questions from audience participants
• Short debriefing session at end of debate

Grant Requirements

Faculty and Student Fellows:

• One faculty fellow and two student fellows supported by grant

Debate Requirements:

• One debate post-wide
• One debate in a class each semester for three semesters
• Fourth semester involves data analysis

Research Goals:
Provide research on the impact of debates on participants, including:

• Ability to exhibit calm and confidence when conflict arises
• Impact on leadership skills
• Data gathered by 10 partner institutions and sent to University of Delaware for analysis

Program Timeline

History at VMI:

• 2017: David Blankenhorn (Braver Angels founder) invited to speak at VMI's Center for Leadership and Ethics Annual Leadership and Ethics Conference on "Speaking Truth to Power: Candid and Courageous Civil Discourse"
• 2021: Braver Angels demonstrated newly developed college debate programming at CLE conference
• Four trained facilitators ran debates on contentious topics
• VMI Building BRIDGES club attended and participated
• 2022: Building BRIDGES and CLE held two debates
• 2022: VMI offered two-year research grant by Braver Angels
• Early spring 2023: First debate planned for post

Eligibility

For Student Fellows:

• Must provide writing sample
• Must pass multiple interviews
• VMI cadets with demonstrated interest in civil discourse

For Faculty Fellow:

• VMI faculty member interested in civil discourse and debate integration

Contact Information

VMI Alumni Agencies

• Phone: 800-444-1839 or 540-464-7328
• Fax: 540-463-1701
• Email: give@vmiaa.org
• Address: P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450

Program Contacts at VMI:

• Lt. Col. Kim Connolly, VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics, Assistant Director for Programs and Conferences
• Lt. Col. Sara Whipple, Ph.D., Psychology Department, Associate Professor and Building BRIDGES Co-advisor
• Col. Valentina Dimitrova-Grajzl, Ph.D., Department of Economics and Business, Faculty Co-advisor for BRIDGES

Fellowship Selection Process

Student Fellow Requirements:

1. Provide a writing sample
2. Pass multiple interviews
3. Demonstrate commitment to civil discourse

Faculty Fellow:

• Selected from VMI faculty interested in civil discourse

Program Responsibilities

Student Fellows:

• Determine debate topics
• Publicize the debates
• Recruit participants
• Be trained by Braver Angels to lead debates

Faculty Fellow:

• Integrate debates into classes
• Support student fellows

Training Provided

Braver Angels Training:

• Training sessions for student fellows to lead debates
• Faculty training sessions (scheduled for spring) for faculty who want to integrate debates into classes