Amidst Polarization, a Minnesota University Teaches Engaging with Opposing Perspectives

Transcript

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HOST: This is North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live. Today in Minnesota…

ANCHOR: …A 72-year-old is facing possible prison time after threatening to shoot out the windows of a Duluth school. Then, as polarization grows around the country, a state university is teaching students how to confront different perspectives. And what Minnesotans are saying about gun control at the state capitol.

I’m Chantel SinGs.

Police in Duluth arrested a man accused of threatening to shoot out the windows of an elementary school. The 72-year-old, who lives very close to the school, now faces charges of threats of violence. According to TV station Northern News Now, the suspect made the threats at a local bar, and staff then called police. Once in custody, the 72-year-old admitted to making the threats, according to a criminal complaint. He’s facing a maximum sentence of five years in prison or a 10-thousand dollar fine.

In today’s main story, in many ways, our country is becoming more polarized, especially when it comes to politics. Katharine DeCelle tells us about a unique program at the University that is helping students to bridge those divides.

Katharine DeCelle: Recent acts of gun violence and political assassinations have sparked discussions across the nation and, here in Minnesota, about the importance of understanding differing beliefs and the need for respectful conversations before arguments turn to violence. It's important to create a space where people feel free to debate without the fear of retaliation. This fall, the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs began its second year of a new orientation program for graduate students. The goal is to help students learn how to talk with others who have differing opinions.

Rachel Leatham: We were sensing a disconnect between faculty and students, between students and students, and this inability to grapple with complex issues and relationships and different political points of view that were leading to people feeling canceled or feeling unsafe in space together.

Katharine DeCelle: That's Rachel Leatham with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, who says the constructive dialog orientation workshops are a great way for students to start off the school year together.

Rachel Leatham: We're inviting people to enter into their graduate school experience with a mindset that is different than your typical grad school experience. How can we bring people together in conversation to grapple with issues and just hold space for different points of view that may not be heard otherwise?

Katharine DeCelle: A poll from the New York Times and Siena College, conducted a year after the murder of George Floyd, showed that 55% of Americans say they have not spoken their opinions freely over the last year because they were concerned about retaliation or harsh criticisms. Tane Danger is one of the workshop facilitators.

Tane Danger: A lot of folks choose not to participate or engage in dialog at all because they don't want to go into a space where they think it is going to be antagonistic or angry or frustrating. And so they simply check out. They don't speak up and participate. They don't engage with folks who they think are going to have different points of view at all.

Katharine DeCelle: Tane says that choosing not to have conversations can be a bigger problem than arguing, because while fighting and yelling are not ideal, he says, at least those people are still part of the conversation.

Tane Danger: It's important for us to be able to have conversations and talk to each other, even when we know we're not going to agree. At the end of it, we can sit respectfully, listen to each other. “I have my point of view on this, and you have your point of view on this, and those are different, and that's okay.” That's actually valuable, because we both have something to learn from each other.

Katharine DeCelle: Students will be putting their new skills to use this fall when the University hosts a Minneapolis mayoral debate. For North Star Stories, I’m Katharine DeCelle.

ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories.

A new poll shows strong support for banning guns inside Minnesota’s State Capitol. Nearly 79 percent of State fairgoers favored a ban, while 17 percent opposed it and 4 percent were undecided. This year’s unscientific poll drew nearly 10,000 participants, up from about 8,000 last year. The annual poll was conducted by the nonpartisan House Public Information Services Office and asked about issues discussed in prior legislative sessions. The poll also showed most Minnesotans feel undocumented immigrants should have access to state programs, those aged 65 or older should get free fishing licenses, and legislators should be banned from becoming lobbyists for two years after leaving office.

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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.