ODEI Curates “Connective Perspectives”: Resources to Navigate Civil Discourse

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — February 11, 2025) The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s (ODEI) efforts to foster understanding and respect at Empire State University are many—the “Reason & Respect” panels alone are a wonderful, ongoing resource. “Reason & Respect” is a conversation series that focuses on topics relevant to the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. To establish a reliable resource that students, faculty, and staff at Empire State University can turn to, ODEI has created “Connective Perspectives.” This project, aptly named to highlight the interface between diversity and perspective, is a collection of resources aimed at promoting understanding through dialogue across the university.

Ideated by Ade Byron, ODEI program manager, and Dan Greer, executive director of student services, “Connective Perspectives” was born out of a desire to further the conversation surrounding civil discourse at Empire State University. Civil discourse, in practice, means thoughtful and respectful conversation that seeks to achieve mutual understanding and acceptance rooted in respect. When practiced, relationships can be strengthened, as civil discourse can accommodate opposing viewpoints on equal ground without the pressures of debating or altering someone’s firmly held beliefs—at its core, it is about understanding and listening. 

Often, civil discourse is misunderstood and therefore avoided, though in reality, it provides a safe framework through which to navigate tricky conversations. Byron commented: “When we mistake civil discourse for debate or persuasion, we risk undermining the trust and psychological safety that make meaningful dialogue possible. This distinction is crucial in DEI work, which requires moving beyond the adversarial mindset that often characterizes academic or political discourse.”

After a “Reason & Respect” panel last August that centered around civil discourse, Byron and Greer wanted to prolong the momentum of that conversation and inaugurated a four-part series that introduced essential skills for engaging in civil discourse. In each of the four parts, a skill was introduced, along with how to practice it. Then, participants had the chance to apply the skill they learned about in conversation among themselves as part of the series’ activities.

The instructive offerings and activities of these sessions have since been transformed into “Connective Perspectives.” Byron explained, “[‘Connective Perspectives’ is] where people can learn and develop these skills at their own pace or come back to them when the need arises. The information for each of the skills is shared in different formats to accommodate multiple modes of learning.” The resource compilation is available to students, staff, faculty, and community members to access any time—its teachings are not only helpful in workplace and classroom settings but can also be applied to personal life.

“Connective Perspectives” highlights many topics through which one can become more comfortable engaging in civil discourse, such as curious questioning or creating space for accountability. While this is already exciting information to dive into, it is further enriched by the variety of formats in which the information is presented. The use of generative AI was fundamental in tailoring the information presented throughout “Connective Perspectives” to engage all kinds of learners, whether they retain information best by reading, seeing, or listening. “The different resources also vary in length and depth of subject matter. Whether you want to watch an hour-long presentation on the skill, listen to a 15-minute podcast on your way to work, or read a summary of the key topics discussed, there is something for everyone to engage with,” explains Byron.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion encourages all members of the Empire State University community to explore the resources offered in “Connective Perspectives”, as it holds great potential for healthy, open communication. “Challenging conversations are a part of our everyday lives, especially in a university setting where knowledge and ideas are constantly being exchanged… [civil discourse] transforms the way we view conversations about challenging or sensitive topics and greatly improves the outcomes of these conversations,” says Byron.