
Events
Our most beloved event is back for the Spring semester! Get excited for good conversations and free lunch!
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How it works: Professors bring three statements they are willing to defend and students gather around and take them on. Potential options for debate are wide. One table was discussing President Trump's cabinet picks, the table next to them was in deep debate on whether or not Taylor Swift was the this generation's greatest literary talent.
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Thanks to professors A.D. Carson, David Leblang, Allan Stam, and Sherri Moore for being willing to be disagreed with.
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Disagree with a Professor
'Democracy Dialogues': How Americans Can Disagree Better
On Tuesday, November 19th, 2024 Governor Phil Murphy (D-NJ) and Governor Spencer Cox (R-UT) met to discuss the current climate of political polarization in the United States. They talked about how we can foster healthy debate that leads to a stronger democracy, and the role that states can play in setting an example of respectful disagreement and constructive dialogue that focuses on problem solving.
Mary Kate Cary, UVA professor of politics, and Jennifer Lawless, UVA professor of politics and public policy, who currently co-teach a course on “Election 2024” with a bipartisan perspective, co-moderated the discussion.
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Read about the conversation in the well-summarized report here.
Fourth Annual Student Oratory Competition

Graduate Winner Kamau Walker
“Tell the Story of a Hero of Our American Democracy.”
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On November 18th, 2024 undergraduate and graduate students answered this prompt for UVA’s Annual Student Oratory Competition. They stood before a public audience and delivered their five-minute speeches to a bipartisan panel of former White House and Cabinet speechwriters in the Rotunda Dome Room.
​Awards included $1,000 prizes for each division winner, Jefferson Cups for finalists, and opportunities to engage with experts in the field. ​
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Sidney Seybold won the undergraduate division and Kamau Walker won the graduate division. Other finalists included Valentina Mendoza Gonzalez, Arola Oluwehinmi, Jack Siegel, Samuel Bedford, Grant Spears, and Heidi Zmick. Click here to read and watch the speeches. ​
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This year's Student Oratory Competition was hosted by the Karsh Institute and Think Again @ UVA in partnership with Heterodox Academy at UVA, BridgeUVA, Civil Discourse Initiative, the Jefferson Literary & Debating Society, the Washington Society, the UVA Clubs Global Network, and Charlottesville's English Speaking Union.
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Low Stakes, Hot Takes
Are you weary of political discussions? Longing for a fresh conversation topic? Take a break from politics and come to the Rotunda for roundtable speed-debating to discuss hotly contested, silly questions like: "Ketchup on mac & cheese: underrated delicacy or toddler cuisine" and "listening to an audio book vs. physically reading it yourself." Come for the comfort food, stay for the conversation!

Braver Angels Debate​
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In a Braver Angels debate, students practice debating controversial topics in a parliamentary style format. This type of debate encourages everyone to speak or ask questions, ensures civility in disagreement, and strives for learning and better understanding for all. All students are invited to participate in this moderated discussion, where the goal is not for one side to win, but for each person to speak.
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The topic debated was whether the U.S. should repeal the Second Amendment of the Constitution. It was the first Braver Angels debate to be held on Grounds.
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Disagree with a Professor
This Free Speech Friday event gives students the chance to sit down with a professor and peers over a free meal. Professors bring three statements they are willing to defend and students are welcome to challenge and debate their view. The room is filled with lively conversation! The professors in this round of Disagree with a Professor were David Leblang, Sherri Moore, Allan Stam, Paul Wagner, and Brad Wilcox. Many thanks to their participation!
Student feedback included, "I met a lot of people and I had great conversations about things I am very passionate about" and "I really liked having professors from other departments and disciplines." This event was cosponsored by Think Again and Heterodox Academy at UVA.
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Prof. Cary Speaks About Promoting Free Speech at UVA
In May 2024, Think Again Director Mary Kate Cary spoke about growing the free speech movement at UVA as part of the Third Thursday speaker series at the Lodge at Old Trail in Crozet. Using the most up-to-date statistics from student surveys, she explained why there is still much work to be done to encourage free speech and viewpoint diversity at UVA. She also highlighted new organizations on Grounds that seek to promote civil discourse among those with differing views. These clubs demonstrate that students see the need for more work in the area. Professor Cary suggested steps students, administrators, and community members can do to support an environment of free expression, viewpoint diversity, critical thinking, and intellectual humility on Grounds.
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Food for Thought
Free Speech Fridays kicked off in February with Food for Thought. Students filled the multi-purpose room at the Rotunda to enjoy a lunch from Take It Away and conversation with those at their tables. Think Again proposed questions for the students to discuss, with topics ranging from the simple (favorite place on the Corner) to more complex (the last time you changed your mind about something). The food didn't last long, but students lingered around tables, getting to know one another and listening to each other's ideas. It was a great atmosphere to foster civil discourse, viewpoint diversity, and free expression. Think Again looks forward to hosting more events like this in the future.


Building A Culture of Diversity
On November 9, 2022 at the Old Parkland Debate Chamber in Dallas, Texas, Think Again director Mary Kate Cary joined a panel discussion entitled, "Speaking of Free Speech: Building a Culture of Viewpoint Diversity on College Campuses." Panelists included UVA Professor Gerard Alexander, director of the Blue Ridge Center, and Professor Ilana Redstone, director of the Mill Institute at the University of Austin. A lively conversation about concrete steps universities across the nation can take to create viewpoint diversity was moderated by UVA alumnus Drew McKnight.
The Source of Basic Rights
No contrast highlights the importance of speech and other rights like that between authoritarian rule and democracy. Otto Warmbier was a UVA student on an academic trip when he was seized and abused by North Korea’s dictatorship. Five years ago, he died in a coma. On April 28, 2022, Think Again invited Otto’s parents and Theta Chi fraternity brothers; Yeon-Mi Park, the most prominent North Korean defector living in America; and UVA law professor Sai Prakash, who discussed where our basic rights come from and how they should and can be protected.


Virginia Higher Education Summit
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin addressed representatives from all sixteen colleges and universities across the commonwealth during the Higher Education Summit on Free Speech and Intellectual Diversity on November 29, 2023. The Summit, which was held at UVA's Newcomb Hall, was cosponsored by Think Again and the Karsh Institute of Democracy.
Bo Seo Debate Workshop
Drawing from his experience as a two-time world debating champion, Bo Seo conducted a student workshop on October 19, 2023 that was sponsored by Think Again and the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Seo spoke with students about how to navigate disagreement constructively so that they can have enlightening and productive discussions inside and outside of the classroom.
In addition to his interactive demonstration, Seo answered questions from Think Again’s Professor Mary Kate Cary, who moderated the event. Seo's session was part of the Karsh Institute of Democracy’s Democracy 360 weekend.

UVA Third Annual Student Oratory Contest

What is the greatest strength of our democracy?
Eight finalists in the third annual UVA Student Oratory Contest took on this question during their speeches before a live audience in the Dome Room of the Rotunda on Wednesday October 18, 2023. Their five-minute speeches highlighted different aspects of the uniquely American experiment with democracy. The panel of judges consisted of four former Presidential speechwriters from both parties and the winner of last year’s contest. They chose Peter Lee Hamilton as the winner. Hamilton, a graduate student completing the JD/MBA program, received a $500 prize. Watch his speech here: 2023 Student Oratory Contest Winning Speech
Other finalists included Ryan Conn, Thomas Davies, Nahor Hagos, Kellen Narke, Kyle Riopelle, Reese Whittaker, and Deanna Wilbourn.
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Sponsored by Think Again, the Karsh Institute of Democracy, the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, the University Democrats, the College Republicans, and Middle Grounds.
Strengthening Free Speech on Grounds
Strengthening free speech on UVA Grounds was the topic of a speech by Professor Mary Kate Cary at the Colonnade Club on Oct. 12, 2023. In her speech, which was attended by faculty, staff, and community members, she reviewed the state of free speech at the University. In the latest College Free Speech rankings by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), UVA comes in 6th for having the most open environment for free speech. Professor Cary dissected the research behind that ranking and demonstrated that there is still work to be done to maintain and improve an open environment for students and for faculty -- especially in terms of student self-censoring.
