USD-Magazine-Spring-2025

AT THE EDGE OF IT ALL

Toreros Unite to Grow Opportunities for Positive Dialogue

“ We are giving USD students the opportunity to share opinions. But, in order to express those opinions, you have to do it in a way that’s going to cultivate a positive environment here.” — Leilani Youmans WHAT POSITIVE CIVIL DISCOURSE CAN LOOK LIKE ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students Nicole Whitner, EdD and Leilani Youmans, a civil discourse ambassador (pictured above) joined the At the Edge of It All podcast to talk about the importance of civility and how to approach difficult conversations, especially on a college campus and among young adults. Assistant Vice President for Student Life Byron Howlett, EdD, was also instrumental in the development of the initiative.

Toreros Together for the Common Good was a campuswide initiative that asked all University of San Diego stakeholders to come together in the spirit of civil discourse and constructive dialogue. Throughout Fall 2024, the university engaged the community in various programming opportunities centered around the important democratic and civic processes involved in an election year. Key to the initiative was a group of roughly two dozen dedicated USD students who served as trained, civil discourse ambassadors. “This initiative has been exciting for me because I got to geek out about global and local politics while also growing relationships with my peers of different perspectives and values,” said Leilani Youmans, a second-year international relations student who chose to become an ambassador to engage with her community and challenge herself to develop better communication and listening skills. The response to the initiative was overwhelmingly positive, especially from a student perspective, Youmans believes. “I’m thankful that we have such an open minded and eager community on campus that wants to work together to make a more loving and respectful world. I’ve learned

so much about what my peers are passionate about and their insights from our conversations have given me hope for what our generation will accomplish in the future.” Programming included tabling events on voter education, lectures and discussion circles both before and after the November election. There were also a number of special events, such as Civility Cafés, which

At the Edge of It All is a University of San Diego podcast where USD experts speak on topics and stories that impact you and the broader community.

showcased campus experts speaking on various topics related to civil discourse.

Download episodes wherever you get your podcasts or visit sandiego.edu/at-the-edge .

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