Veteran journalist and “What Would You Do?“ host John Quiñones urged students at ETSU to lead with compassion and courage during a keynote address for Civility Week on Thursday, March 26.

Speaking to a packed audience, Quiñones framed civility as an everyday responsibility, encouraging students to look out for others and act when witnessing injustice.

“It means looking out for your fellow human being, getting to know someone who’s different from you, showing compassion, lending a helping hand and sounding the alarm when you see something wrong,” he said. “I don’t think we’re civil enough to each other these days… we need to just be good to each other.”

Quiñones, a longtime correspondent for ABC News and creator of the hidden-camera series “What Would You Do?,” connected his message to the show’s premise — how people respond in moments of moral tension. He challenged attendees to move from passive observation to action.

“Silence is complicity,” he said, adding that everyday decisions to intervene — even indirectly — can make a difference. “We all have cell phones. You can alert a manager or call attention to something without putting yourself in harm’s way.”

Throughout the talk, Quiñones acknowledged the fear that can prevent people from stepping in, noting that bystanders often hesitate due to potential risks. Still, he emphasized that most people want to do the right thing.

John Quiñones mingles during a Meet and Greet event prior to his address. (Photo/East Tennessean)

“Sometimes we’re afraid, and there’s good reason to be,” he said. “But we hesitate too often.”

He also highlighted patterns observed over nearly two decades of filming social experiments, saying those who have experienced discrimination or hardship are often the first to speak up. Women, he added, tend to intervene more quickly than men.

“Men worry about it becoming physical,” he said. “Women just seem to be quicker to act.”

Quiñones encouraged students to embrace differing perspectives without hostility, stressing the importance of listening and understanding.

“There’s nothing wrong with disagreeing,” he said. “We can agree to disagree without getting angry. Try to understand where someone is coming from — we’re all products of our environment.”

Drawing from personal experiences and episodes from his show, Quiñones said people often defy expectations when faced with moments of injustice.

“We’re surprised all the time by who steps in,” he said, recalling instances where unlikely individuals showed compassion. “There are so many good people out there…restoring our faith in humanity.”

Civility Week at ETSU, organized in partnership with the Student Government Association, aims to promote respectful dialogue and community engagement across campus. Quiñones’ visit underscored the initiative’s mission, leaving students with a challenge rooted in both journalism and humanity: act with integrity, even when no one is watching.

“At the end of the day,” he said, “it’s about doing the right thing because your heart tells you it’s right.”

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