ETSU is gearing up for its annual Civility Week celebration, which is hosted by the Student Government Association and will take place on March 28 through April 4, 2022.
The events that are set to take place this year will include a variety of presentations by keynote speakers, the SGA Executive Debate and the TEDxETSU event.
Civility Week – as stated by the ETSU SGA Website – was created to “empower and foster an inclusive environment that honors the diversity of ETSU.”
It strives to raise awareness about issues faced by those who have a different set of experiences than the average person, while encouraging topics such as unity and social justice.
This year’s keynote speakers include Van Jones, Meghan McCain and David Plazas. Jones, who is a CNN Host, author, producer, and founder of the Dream Corps, will kick off Civility Week on Monday, March 28, with a talk at the ETSU Foundation Grand Hall located inside of the Martin Center for the Arts.
Plazas, an award-winning journalist and Opinion & Engagement Director for Tennessee’s USA Today Network, will host the “Lessons Learned from Civility Tennessee: A Toolkit for Healthier Living and a Better Civil Society” event on Wednesday, March 30 inside of the Culp Auditorium. On Thursday, March 31, McCain – former co-host of The View and daughter of the late presidential candidate John McCain – will wrap up the event with a talk taking place in the Martin center.
In addition to the keynote speakers, students will be able to enjoy and participate in a variety of Civility Week events. On Tuesday, March 29, a panel of students from various practices of faith will host the “A Higher Purpose: A Dialogue on Religious and Spiritual Identity and the College Experience” presentation.
That evening, students will have the chance to watch SGA Executive Candidates debate inside of the Cave. After the debate, the BaFa’BaFa’ event will take place, which is a cultural simulation designed to help participants understand the powerful effects that culture has on people’s lives.
On Thursday, March 31, the Accessibility Walk is set to occur in the University Commons, where participants can learn about accessibility for people with disabilities on campus. Lastly, Civility Week will conclude with the TEDxETSU presentation on April 4.
To learn more about Civility Week and the events taking place, visit www.etsu.edu/sga/civility.php.
