In this election cycle, there is much talk about democracy: protecting it, defending it, and strengthening it. What makes democracy (and our government) work? Fundamentally, we do: and, as individuals, we are responsible for its health. From ancient times to the modern era, it has long been understood that for a democracy to flourish, it depends on the intentional engagement and participation from each of us.
Are we ready for the job? Jesuit colleges and universities are among our institutions in the United States that are committed to forming individuals who understand their responsibilities as part of a vibrant democracy, who practice citizenship, and think about why it matters. A new report from the AJCU Commission on Citizenship and Democracy, “Toward a Hope-Filled, Democratic Future: Educating for Democratic Citizenship in the AJCU,” is a valuable resource that helps us see how this work evolves on college campuses. So, what are Jesuit colleges and universities doing for democracy? Let’s dig in and allow “Democracy” to spell it out for us!
Dedication: Our Jesuit institutions are committed to this work. This past summer, the AJCU Commission on Citizenship and Democracy issued their aforementioned report in advance of the AJCU Faith, Justice and Reconciliation Assembly at Loyola University Chicago. Prior to the Assembly, this group worked collaboratively for nearly a year to unpack the question: “What do our Jesuit colleges and universities owe democracy?” This is intentional work that is focused on better preparing our students to become engaged citizens. It includes proposing a model “Civic Examen,” which invites reflection on “whether we are doing enough to educate our students for democratic citizenship.”
Encounter: Jesuit education fosters dialogue and discussion by inviting students to encounter those whose perspectives might be different than their own. The Commission report notes:
“Colleges are uniquely positioned to accomplish this task, in that a.) they bring together a diverse range of viewpoints, b.) they can bring people together in relatively low stakes formats, c.) they are staffed with individuals who should be distinctly skilled at facilitating the engagement of different voices, and d.) they have the authority to convene persons who might otherwise not be invited to encounter one another. If we do not encourage such on campus, it is unlikely that our students will have encountered it before or will encounter it after they leave.”
Can we learn and practice dialogue with those whom we disagree? College campuses are wonderful places for such exchanges to happen.
Modeling and Mentoring: Students learn from books, professors and, importantly, through observation. The Commission Report calls our schools to be models for that work by embracing programs that lift up inclusive, democratic practices for students to witness and model in their clubs and in their advocacy.
Others: Jesuit education, at its heart, seeks to form people for and with others. Awareness of the needs around us prepares our graduates to find solutions for the challenges facing their communities, as well as the nation. The Commission Report challenges our institutions to do more than think and learn about justice, but to act in the pursuit of justice. Our goal should be to graduate students who are prepared to be what the Commission refers to as “Justice-Oriented Citizens”: people who understand the laws and abide by them; who participate in activities to help others; and who investigate the roots of injustice or inequity and seek to solve those problems.
Community: A Jesuit education places us in community. Students are contributors to their campus communities and neighborhoods, as well as their states, our nation, and the broader global society. The Jesuit tradition reinforces to our students that they are global citizens who care about our “global interconnectedness” and have an understanding of the “global dimensions” of issues facing all of us today.
Reflection: Part of the job of Jesuit colleges and universities is to remind us to consider the reasons why a healthy democracy is valued. Democracy is more than exercising your vote. It demands consideration of the power of that vote to advance change toward the greater good. Considering the care and well-being of others is the foundation of a good democracy. That takes work and an awareness of the needs of others, in addition to voting.
Active Participation: The Commission report, in its Civic Examen, makes clear the importance of knowledge of the principles of democracy. But it asks our institutions to go beyond knowledge to the “active deployment of skills that enable citizens to understand and engage the world.” It calls on Jesuit colleges and universities to help students build “democratic muscle memory through active participation.”
Common Good: This is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy and the foundation of the work of Jesuit colleges and universities. Citizen engagement should have an eye toward what benefits the community, not just one’s own self-interest. The Commission report quotes the words of Pope Francis, noting that civic education should support “the creation of ‘a better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good.’”
YOU: Last but not least, democracy depends on you to be informed, to be engaged, to have awareness, and to care about the world around you.
Hope springs from the commitment of Jesuit colleges and universities to fostering our democracy. Hope springs from Jesuit-educated students and graduates, who will ensure our democracy serves the greater good.
By Jenny Smulson, Vice President of Government Relations, AJCU