James Madison Center for Civic Engagement: Democracy Matters

Episode 1: A Place to Start: Conversation with Professor, Artist, Community Organizer Pato Hebert.

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Artists use so many different mediums to comment on their surroundings, some use it as an opportunity to make a statement on current events and government action. Photographer and activist, Pato Hebert, sits down with us to discuss art's undeniable place in the conversation about democracy.

Episode 2: Real Democracy Needs Everyone's Perspectives

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Dr. Barbara Schaal, Dean of Arts and Sciences and Mary-Dell Chilton Distinguished Professor Professor of Biology at the Washington University in St. Louis discusses the importance of a liberal arts education, and of including science and scientific expertise in policy and decision-making processes to strengthen democracy.

Episode 3: Bringing Democracy to Life

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

From teaching information literacy, to providing community gathering spaces, to fostering access to information, to connecting people with each other, and more, James Madison University Librarians Kristen Shuyler and Liz Chenevey discuss their research about how libraries of all types in Virginia and across the country support democracy and the civic life of their communities.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2019/07-15-democracy-matters-episode-3.shtml

Episode 4: Beware the Shrinking Imagination!

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Two questions animate our work: What if? How so? The work of imagining is something we should take very seriously in civic engagement. It's difficult to engage our senses in this difficult and academic work and the shrinking imagination stifles our work. Professor Tim Eatman, Dean of the Honors Living-Learning Community and Associate Professor of Urban Education in the College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University, discusses the five senses to engage in the work of imagining: hope, history, passion empathy, planning.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2019/07-16-democracy-matters-episode-4.shtml

Episode 5: Don't Cook Tonight! Call Ceola. Or How to Build Non-Colonial University-Community Partnerships with a Blue Hair Brigade

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Communities around the world are demanding full participation in every step of the research process, from identifying the issues to be looked at, to prioritizing them, to developing the research design, to creating the instruments used to collect the data, to being involved in the analysis of the data and in the development of policy prescriptions. As a result, increasingly university-based researchers are finding that a collaborative or participatory approach in which they co-investigating with the people most deeply impacted by a policy or issue is the only way they can proceed to do their work. Otherwise they can't get the cooperation of the people who are the source of the most important knowledge and insights. Dr. Kenneth Reardon, Professor of Urban Planning in the School for the Environment and Director of Urban Planning and Community Development at University of Massachusetts Boston talks about advancing student civic learning, conducting community-based research, fostering reciprocal partnerships, building institutional commitments to engagement, and enhancing higher education's contributions to the public good. He also talks about his work with the Blue Hair Brigade on the East St. Louis Action Research Project, which is the subject of his new book, Building Bridges: Community and University Partnerships in East St. Louis. Order the new book from Social Policy Press or on Amazon.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2019/07-17-democracy-matters-episode-5.shtml

Episode 6: The SOUL of Campus Civic Life

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Academic communities can be major drivers of civic engagement and critical thought around major issues. JMU Senior Ethan Gardner talks with Anna Williams and Yeimy Gamez Castillo, two students from the Rutgers-Newark University Honors Living Learning Community who attended the 2019 Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Conference. Their conversation covers a variety of important topics on how academics can be infused with civic engagement initiatives. Additionally, they discuss the inspiring specific projects undertaken by Anna, who created a student union to facilitate communication and action in connection with the Student Governing Association, and Yeimi, who put together multiple public art initiatives to provide a platform for community members to share their stories on pressing issues. This episode is moderated and focused on the work of students.

Episode 7: Bring on the Democracy Midwives!

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

John Dewey said that "Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife." Although people who go to college are slightly more likely to vote, their participation in other forms of political engagement are actually slightly depressed. There is more we can do in both academic AND student affairs to really make a difference in preparing students to be actively engaged in democracy. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Elizabeth Bennion, Political Science Professor and founding director of the American Democracy Project at Indiana University South Bend, and Andrew Lardie, Associate Director for Service and Leadership at the McKeen Center for the Common Good at Bowdoin College.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2019/07-28-democracy-matters-episode-7.shtml

Episode 8: So Much Noise and No One Needs A Broadcast Message

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Student attention is a scarce commodity. What are the best opportunities for capturing student attention to engage them in civic learning and democratic engagement? In this episode we talk with Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, Executive Director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, and Michael Peshkin, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University. As a first step to deeper engagement in civic life, Northwestern University registers every incoming student to vote during orientation, and voter registration exceeds 96%. The institutionalization of voter registration began with a Mechanical Engineering professor and students. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge encourages higher education institutions to help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship, make democratic participation a core value on their campus, and cultivate generations of engaged citizens who are essential to a healthy democracy. ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) Northwestern: Student Voter Registration Exceeds 96 Percent (video) How one university teaches its students to vote (and it's old-school) by Kim Castle, Janice Levy and Michael Peshkin The Cost of Convenience: An Experiment Showing E-Mail Outreach Decreases Voter Registration by Elizabeth Bennion (Indiana University) and David Nickerson (Notre Dame)

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2019/08-05-democracy-matters-episode-8.shtml

Episode 9: Beyond the Lens: Justice Through Photography

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

From Richmond to the West Bank, from Kentucky to Tanzania, photography has the potential to communicate lived experiences and complex social issues to those in power. In this episode, we talk with internationally acclaimed photographer Wendy Ewald about her work in Virginia and beyond using photography as a collaborative process to strengthen democracy. Ewald has spent more than 40 years collaborating with children, families, and teachers all over the world. In her work, she encourages her collaborators to use cameras (as well as using the camera herself) to record themselves, their families and their communities, and to articulate their fantasies and dreams. Ewald often has them mark or write on her own negatives, thereby challenging the concept of who actually makes an image. Wendy's website Literacy and Justice through Photography JMU's Center for Creative Inquiry (formerly known as Institute for Visual Studies) In Peace and Harmony: Carver Portraits

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2019/08-12-democracy-matters-episode-9.shtml

Episode 10: Inclusive Music and the Value of 'Being With'

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

What is inclusion and how can inclusive music contribute to a culture of democratic engagement through authentic experiences of participatory musicking? JMU's Center for Inclusive Music Engagement is facilitating innovative opportunities for all persons-particularly those are often marginalized in institutional music education contexts-to create, perform, respond, and connect with, in, through, and around music in ways they find meaningful. In this episode we talk with Dr. Jesse Rathgeber, an assistant professor of music education at James Madison University and associate director of the Center for Inclusive Music Engagement, and with Emily Veramessa, who graduated from JMU in 2019 with a degree in music education and is now the inaugural Engagement Fellow at the Center. JMU Center for Inclusive Music Engagement JMUke Jesse Rathgeber's scholarship, musicianship and engagement Emily Varamessa's scholarship, musicianship and engagement

Episode 11: Women Breaking Barriers: A Timeline

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0000

2019-2020 marks the 100th anniversary since the passage and ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution which articulated that, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." The 19th amendment was the result of centuries of activism and contributions from many social movements to ensure through the highest law of the land a "right through which all other rights could be secured." But as suffragist leader Frances Harper observed in 1893, "I do not think the mere extension of the ballot a panacea for all the ills of our national life. What we need to-day is not simply more voters, but better voters." Kearstin Kimm, a senior Computer Science major at James Madison University, spent her summer as a Democracy Fellow at the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement researching the history of women's rights in what we now know as the United States and the 19th amendment. Using her knowledge and technical expertise, she created a comprehensive timeline beginning in 1619 up to present day. In this episode, Kearstin discusses the timeline, which includes entries related to progress and challenges to the status of women, with photos and links to primary source documents. Women Breaking Barriers: A Timeline

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2019/09-04-democracy-matters-episode-11.shtml

Episode 12: The Ballot Box: The Only Place Where Jeff Bezos and the Janitor of McDonalds Are Equal

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Although there have been many advancements since the passage of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, there is much to be done to improve the status of women, including among other things: ending sex-based discrimination, improving maternal mortality rates for black women, ensuring equal pay for equal work, increasing protections for the LGBTQ+ community, and addressing challenges faced by veterans and those who live in poverty. In this episode of Democracy Matters, we play a recording of Constitution Day speaker Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy, who discussed the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and answered questions from JMU students. Foy was the first public defender to ever serve in the Virginia General Assembly and now devotes her time as an attorney advocate representing abused and neglected children in court. Additionally, Delegate Foy was one of the first African-American women to graduate from Virginia Military Institute.

Episode 13: Talkin 'bout the Revolution: What we can learn from women breaking barriers in early America

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

History doesn't always move toward the inclusion of groups. Sometimes rights can be lost as well as gained. Take, for example, the American Revolutionary period, which created opportunities for women to participate in politics. By 1828, however, women's politicization was seen more as a liability than as a strength, and contributed to a divisive political climate that brought the country to the brink of civil war. In this episode, distinguished American historian Dr. Rosemarie Zagarri joins us to discuss her path-breaking research in early American political history and why we need to have a grasp of the past to defend the rights of those who may be vulnerable to disenfranchisement.

Episode 14: Plan, Do, Check and Prove: Educating for Democracy on Campuses and Beyond

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Ian Simmons, the Founder and President of the Foundation for Civic Leadership and a member of the Madison Center's advisory board, about best practices and promising projects for enhancing democracy.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/01-01-democracy-matters-episode-14.shtml

Episode 15: Banking on Civic Learning

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Community banks are vital to the American economy and society. In this episode, we talk with JMU College of Business Finance Professor Dr. Carl Larsson, and with Katie Jarrett, a senior in the School of Media Arts and Design and Corinne Barbieri, a senior Finance major, who are members of JMU's Banking Team.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/01-22-democracy-matters-episode-15.shtml

Episode 16: Evaluating Political News in an Election Year

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with JMU School of Media Arts and Design Assistant Professor Ryan Alessi about the best strategies for evaluating political news stories in a hyperpartisan election year.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/02-24-democracy-matters-episode-16.shtml

Episode 17: Is Civility a Cure for the Dysfunctions of Democracy?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

What do high levels of distrust and socioeconomic and political inequality portend for democracy and civility? In this episode we talk with Dr. Robert Talisse, W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University about what civility is and why it fails.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/03-21-democracy-matters-episode-17.shtml

Episode 18: Tearing the Veil From the Bottom Up: Civic Engagement thru Hip-Hop

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In 1897, W.E.B Du Bois wrote, 'Then it dawned upon me with a certain suddenness that I was different from the others; or like, mayhap, in heart and life and longing, but shut out from their world by a vast veil." In this episode, we talk with Dr. Jarrit Ahmed Sheel, Assistant Professor of Music Education at Berklee College of Music, who spent a week as the College of Visual and Performing Arts Cultural Connections Artist in Residence at JMU. Like Du Bois, Jarrit Ahmed Sheel also combines history, philosophy and music to deeply engage his students and audiences in efforts to tear down veils of exclusion and marginalization, whether they're race-based or class-based.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/03-28-democracy-matters-episode-18.shtml

Episode 19: Leadership in a Time of Global Crisis: Serving the campus, community and beyond

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we have an in-depth conversation with James Madison University President Jonathan R. Alger about what kind of leadership is needing during a global crisis and what it has been like to make important decisions on big matters with incomplete information at an unprecedented pace - from reorganizing courses for distance and online learning to responding to local community needs.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/04-04-democracy-matters-episode-19.shtml

Episode 20: Protecting Democracy During Pandemic

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

As more states prepare for primaries and as the nation plans for the November 2020 general elections, how should candidates approach campaigning and how should elections be administered during a pandemic? What is the role of the media and what will matter most to voters when they cast their ballot in November? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Larry Sabato, Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia and director of the Center for Politics about the fundamental need to ensure voters have a voice in government by deciding who governs even during a pandemic.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/04-19-democracy-matters-episode-20.shtml

Episode 21: Counting for Community Resilience: Census in the Time of COVID

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Census faced serious challenges to achieving a complete and accurate count because of politics, budget restrictions, employing new technology and because social media amplifies the spread of misinformation and disinformation. The global public health crisis has thrown into sharp relief the importance of a complete count, including: ensuring accurate representation in governmental institutions, having accurate data for healthcare infrastructure and emergency preparedness, and access to funding communities desperately need. In this episode of Democracy Matters, we talk with Jonathan Derks, Kearstin Kimm, Tristan Thorgersen, and Abby Wallen about their work this semester to reach hard-to-count communities.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/04-26-democracy-matters-episode-21.shtml

Episode 22: Civic engagement, social distancing, and democracy reform

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Democracy is very much a collective activity. Inside, we come together to debate, discuss, do the work of government, and make laws. Outside, we protest and hold rallies. But much of this is not possible. Social distancing presents a tremendous challenge. In this episode from The Democracy Group podcast network, we look at the barriers and the opportunities as we all deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/04-30-democracy-matters-episode-22.shtml

Episode 23: The World Needs U.S.-China Cooperation

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 06 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

As headlines declare relations between the United States and China have sunk to a new low, we talk with China expert and James Madison University Political Science Professor Dr. Edward Yang about how the COVID-19 crisis is impacting China-U.S. relations, and what can be done to improve and reinvigorate diplomacy between China and the U.S.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/05-06-democracy-matters-episode-23.shtml

Episode 24: New Politics in the Old Dominion?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 14 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Virginia State Senator Scott Surovell (JMU, '93; UVA Law, '96), the Senate Democratic Whip, about what happened in the 2020 legislative session, election reform, options for voting during the pandemic, and redistricting reform on the ballot in November 2020.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/05-14-democracy-matters-episode-24.shtml

Episode 25: UniverCity of Refuge

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 21 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

We are experiencing a global migration and refugees crisis with nearly 71 million people who have fled their homes worldwide, the highest number since World War II. In this episode, we talk about the crisis and what can be done about it with Dr. Diya Abdo, founder of Every Campus a Refuge, Dr. Jamie Williams, associate director of JMU's Community Service-Learning, and Nadiya Khaydari, a junior at JMU majoring in Political Science and Economics and a Senator in the Student Government Association.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/05-21-democracy-matters-episode-25.shtml

Episode 26: Justice As a House: When the Studs are Rotten, Paint Won't Fix It

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have brought attention to the racist policies and systems that engender violence (both sudden and systemic, physical and attitudinal) against Black people in the United States. The current protests are not just in response to these most recent killings – they are in response to the systemic racism that is woven through our society. In this episode, we are featuring remarks from JMU Civic's live streamed town hall on Wednesday June 3 about ending systemic racism and creating a more inclusive campus, democracy and society.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/06-05-democracy-matters-episode-26.shtml

Episode 27: Moving Beyond Lesser of Two Evils: A path to a fairer and more functional democracy?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Have you ever felt like you were wasting your vote on a candidate because you could only choose one candidate on the ballot and wondered if there is a better way? In this episode, we talk with Deb Otis, Senior Research Analyst in the Law and Policy Department at Fair Vote, about Ranked choice voting (RCV). RCV describes voting systems that allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference, and then uses those rankings to elect candidates who best represent their constituents.

Episode 28: Antiracism and Black Agency Through Arts

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode we hear music, spoken word, poetry, and discussion about the role of arts as a means for education, agency and expression of antiracism and racial equity.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/06-19-democracy-matters-episode-28.shtml

Episode 29: Athletlics and Social Justice

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

This episode features a conversation with Semaj Sorhaindo, JMU Football Student-Athlete; Nikki Oppenheimer, JMU Women's Basketball Student-Athlete; Arthur Moats, JMU alumn and linebacker for the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Arizona Cardinals; Ta' Frias, JMU Track and Field Head Coach; Jeff Bourne, Director of Athletics, James Madison University; and Roger Soenksen, Faculty Athletic Representative and Professor in JMU School of Media Arts and Design about the role and agency of athletes, teams and athletic organizations in addressing racial injustice, systemic racism, and creating a more just and inclusive society and democracy.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/06-25-democracy-matters-episode-29.shtml

Episode 30: Why Isn't Democracy Working For Everyone?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In his new book, Democracy in One Book Or Less: How It Works, Why It Doesn't, and Why Fixing It Is Easier Than You Think, David Litt addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing democracy, including partisan rancor, gerrymandering, campaign finance, voter suppression, political corruption, the legislative filibuster and how people are represented (or not) in our political system. David especially focuses on voting rights, and how efforts over time to suppress voting rights based largely on race, ethnicity, and class have led to socioeconomic and political inequalities we see today.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/07-08-democracy-matters-episode-30.shtml

Episode 31: On Becoming a Hotbed of Democracy

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Virginia House of Delegates Representative Schuyler VanValkenburg about civics education, changes in Virginia voting laws, vote-by-mail, redistricting reform on the ballot this November and more.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/07-28-democracy-matters-episode-31.shtml

Episode 32: What Miner Bo's Campaign Can Tell Us About Democracy

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

It's probably safe to say that Bo Copley never expected to run for U.S. Senate. A lifelong resident of Mingo County, West Virginia, Copley worked in the coal industry for 11 years until he was laid off on September 18, 2015. In this episode of Democracy Matters, we talk with Director and Producer Todd Drezner about The Campaign of Miner Bo, which documents Bo Copley's bid for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 2018.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/08-03-democracy-matters-episode-32.shtml

Episode 33: The American Presidency in Trouble and What Voters Can Do

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

"The American presidency is in trouble," says CBS News correspondent John Dickerson in his new book, The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency. "It is overburdened, misunderstood, an almost impossible job to do." In this episode we talk with John about how expansive the presidency has become from what was initially intended for the institution and its responsibilities, and why no individual president can possibly live up to the expectations for the office. We also discuss the 2020 election and whether President Donald J. Trump has changed and reinvented the presidency.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/08-11-democracy-matters-episode-33.shtml

Episode 34: Is Vote by Mail the Solution to Safe, Accessible Elections?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Amidst the COVID-19 public health crisis, many are pondering how we can have safe, secure elections this year while also ensuring access. In this episode, we talk with Michael Pfeifer, a voting rights and political law attorney who says the key is to vote by mail. "The USPS has got this," says Pfiefer.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/08-27-democracy-matters-episode-34.shtml

Episode 35: #LetHerSpeak

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

This episode features the audio from JMU Civic's virtual town hall with Libertarian Party presidential candidate Dr. Jo Jorgensen. We discuss a range of issues including the size and role of the federal government, military and national defense, healthcare, immigration, COVID-19 pandemic, criminal justice reform, the environment and more.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/09-10-democracy-matters-episode-35.shtml

Episode 36: Election Emotions and What We Can Do About Them

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Are you feeling anxious, fatigued, worried, angry or hopeful about the election? In this episode we talk with Dr. Benjamin Blankenship, assistant professor of Psychology at James Madison University about what drives election emotions and what we can do to cope.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/10-08-democracy-matters-episode-36.shtml

Episode 37: The Other Madisons: The Lost History of a President's Black Family

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

"Always remember-you're a Madison. You come from African slaves and a president." Dr. Bettye Kearse joins us for a discussion about her new book, The Other Madisons: The Lost History of a President's Black Family.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/10-14-democracy-matters-episode-37.shtml

Episode 38: Local Action for Global Impact on Climate Change

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

As part of Global Climate Change Week encouraging academic communities to engage with each other, their communities, and policy makers on climate change action and solutions, we talk with Tom Benevento, co-founder of Vine and Fig about the 50 By 25 campaign working toward a clean, just energy transition in Harrisonburg.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/10-16-democracy-matters-episode-38.shtml

Episode 39: More Democracy Is Better Democracy

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

How should we view the 2020 elections in the broader arc of American political history? What are some key questions we should be considering for governance in the wake of such a divisive election? What role does morality policy play in electoral politics? And what is the state of our political parties? In this episode, we dive into these questions and more with JMU Political Science faculty Dr. Marty Cohen and Dr. Kathleen Ferraiolo.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/10-23-democracy-matters-episode-39.shtml

Episode 40: Making Virginia the Burger King of Voting

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, students in our Elections 2020 class interview Chris Piper, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections, about how the pandemic has affected election administration this year; historic levels of absentee and early voting; partnering with federal agencies and other states to combat foreign interference; and how litigation will affect when we know election results.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/10-26-democracy-matters-episode-40.shtml

Episode 41: Turtles Riding Dogs: The Politics of Civil Discourse on Campus and Beyond

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

What does civil discourse mean to students? How can we have hard conversations in such a divisive political climate when the stakes are so high? In this episode, we talk about the politics of civility on campus and beyond with JMU students Wyatt Blevins (Political Science and Public Policy and Administration, '22), Chairman of the College Republicans; Robert Gruberger (History and Political Science, '22), Young Democratic Socialists of America at JMU; and Emily Baker (Political Science and English, '21), Campus Vote Project, Democracy Fellow.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/10-27-democracy-matters-episode-41.shtml

Episode 42: The Supremes and Elections

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Leading up to the 2020 elections, there are over 260 lawsuits in the courts about who can vote, when ballots can be cast and by when they must be counted. In this episode, we talk with SCOTUSblog reporter and Supreme Court expert Amy L. Howe about the litigation arms race and the role of the Supreme Court in voting rights and election law.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/10-30-democracy-matters-episode-42.shtml

Episode 43: Diversity and Democracy Through Higher Education

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Democracy Matters, we talk with Dr. Mildred García, president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and with Jonathan Alger, president of James Madison University, about the role of higher education in advancing diversity and democracy, and higher education's special responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the communities in which they are situated.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/11-12-democracy-matters-episode-43.shtml

Episode 44: Achieving Health Equity

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Americans today live shorter, sicker lives than people in other developed countries, and, across the nation, health varies by income, education, race and ethnicity, and geography. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Linda Plitt-Donaldson, Associate Dean of College of Health and Behavioral Studies and Director of the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services at James Madison University, and with Dr. Laura Merrell, Assistant Professor in Health Sciences, about the social determinants of health and why everyone should care about health equity.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/11-14-democracy-matters-episode-44.shtml

Episode 45: Distrust of News, Divergent Sources, Doom Scrolling and Democracy

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

How have changes in the media ecosystem impacted knowledge of issues and informed participation in elections? How did media coverage of the 2020 elections compare to 2016? Why is there so much distrust in the news media? How does the current mediascape with the ability to pick and choose from divergent news sources impact the ability of Americans to distinguish credible information from misinformation, disinformation and propaganda? And how has the rise of social media impacted elections? In this episode, we talk with JMU Professor of Political Science Dr. David Jones about the implications of the media for democratic participation, practice and governance.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/11-23-democracy-matters-episode-45.shtml

Episode 46: Compromise Is Fruitful and Conflict Is Destructive

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Should we be concerned about how legal challenges made by President Trump's campaign to challenge results in key states combined with the spread of false information and unfounded claims of fraud might undermine trust in elections and political institutions? Why can efforts to deter fraudulent voters make matters worse? How should we be thinking about rights to give and spend money in connection with elections? And how can so called "culture war" cases be adjudicated in courts? In this episode, we talk with election legal expert, Dr. Michael Gilbert, the Martha Lubin Karsh and Bruce A. Karsh Bicentennial Professor of Law, and Director of the Center for Public Law and Political Economy at the University of Virginia.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/11-25-democracy-matters-episode-46.shtml

Episode 47: No Power Superior to the People

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Is the United States a democracy? Is representative government failing the American people? In this episode, we talk with former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel about how bringing the people directly into the operations of government as deliberative lawmakers might make the United States more democratic.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/12-02-democracy-matters-episode-47.shtml

Episode 48: Democracy Is Not Static

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Dr. Melinda Adams, Associate Dean of JMU's College of Arts and Letters, discusses democratic transitions, what to expect in policy approaches to Africa under the Biden administration, women's political representation globally, and more.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/12-11-democracy-matters-episode-48.shtml

Episode 49: From Chaos to Compassion: A New Era for Immigration?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Relying on executive authority and issuing 400 executive actions on immigration, the Trump adminsitration implemented policies on a wide range of immigration issues, touching on everything from asylum to deportation policy, refugee resettlement, and admissions from certain majority-Muslim countries. In this episode, we talk with Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Policy Counsel at the American Immigration Council about immigration law and policy and what to expect under the Biden administration.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2020/12-24-democracy-matters-episode-49.shtml

Episode 50: 'Democracy Is an Act'

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In an essay published posthumously, civil rights icon and Member of Congress John Lewis, wrote, "Democracy Is Not A State. It Is An Act." The team at the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement reflects on 2020 and our nonpartisan efforts to promote informed electoral participation, ensure a complete count in the 2020 Census and create opportunities for people to learn about and take on action on the problems they care about most. The team also shares what more they would do to strengthen democracy. 2020 Team: Abe Goldberg, Carah Ong Whaley, Logan Zeigler, Angelina Clapp, Diego Salinas, Sarah Gully, Emily Baker, Anna Connole, Charlie Conner, Kyle Ford, Nadia Khaydari, Nikki Oppenheimer, Drew Persinger, Ryan Ritter, Katrina Tilley, Mary Tolentino, Kyel Towler, and Katelyn Waltemyer

Episode 51: Insurrection and Sedition Explained

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Democracy Matters, James Madison University History and Political Science faculty experts explain the ongoing insurrection, and help us understand the events of January 6, 2021, the complicity of the president of the United States, and efforts to undermine American elections, and democratic norms and institutions.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/01-13-democracy-matters-episode-51.shtml

Episode 52: Insurrection as a civically responsible form of social change

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Ethan Zuckerman, associate professor of public policy, communication and information at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, who argues that rather than rebuilding trust in institutions, we should question whether institutions are worthy of our trust. We can either work to make our existing institutions better, or we can recognize that they're no longer fit for purpose and build new ones in their stead.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/02-15-democracy-matters-episode-52.shtml

Episode 53: Does The President Have a Mandate?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Does President Joe Biden have a mandate to enact his policies and agenda? Why are presidents drawn to mandate rhetoric? What can we learn from presidential communications about the logic of presidential mandates? How do popular and media conceptions of mandates differ from those of presidents and their teams? Although political scientists have been pretty adamant that mandates aren't real, the idea of an electoral mandate remains powerful. Dr. Julia Azari, associate professor of political science at Marquette University, joins us to discuss the logic of presidential mandates, achieving policy and legislative agendas, government responsiveness and collective representation.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/02-28-democracy-matters-episode-53.shtml

Episode 54: How Can Parties Bring More Women Into Power and Politics?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Kristin Wylie, associate professor of political science at James Madison University, about political violence against women, the state of women's political representation and participation, and reforms to address structural barriers that prevent women from running and serving in office.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/03-10-democracy-matters-episode-54.shtml

Episode 55: Ungoverned and Out of Sight

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Charley Willison, a National Institutes of Mental Health Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harvard University Department of Health Care Policy, about the politics and governance of homelessness in the United States and what can be done to address the national homelessness crisis.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/04-07-democracy-matters-episode-55.shtml

Episode 56: How Can Women Realize Their Full Political Potential?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

According to a recent Pew Research Center study, there is a record number of women serving in the 117th Congress. We talk with Dr. Kira Sanbonmatsu, Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University and Senior Scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, about breaking barriers to women's representation in policy and decisionmaking processes, and the impact of women realizing their full political potential.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/04-15-democracy-matters-episode-56.shtml

Episode 57: Can We Stop Climate Destruction?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The theme of Earth Day 2021 is action on Climate Change. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Tobias Gerken, assistant professor in the School of Integrated Sciences and Technology at JMU whose research focuses on environmental and atmospheric science. He explains some of his novel research on land–atmosphere coupling and feedback and with NASA's project on Atmospheric Carbon and Transport and the Department of Energy's GreenOcean Amazon project. Dr. Gerken shares how this research impacts our understanding of climate modeling, the extent of environmental destruction from climate change, and advice for policymakers for making informed decisions about climate policy.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/04-21-democracy-matters-episode-57.shtml

Episode 58: Is Big Government Back?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

"America is on the move again," declared President Joe Biden in a joint session of Congress on April 28, 2021 and on the eve of the 100th day of his administration. In this episode, Caitlin Tully, a first-year Finance major in JMU's College of Business, moderates a discussion with economic policy experts Flint Engelman, Americans for Prosperity, and Ben Ritz, Director of Progressive Policy Institute's Center for Funding America's Future about the presidential administration's economic policy priorities and impacts on Americans.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/04-29-democracy-matters-episode-58.shtml

Episode 59: Can transparency, oversight, ethics and accountability save American democracy?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 19 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode we talk with Walter Shaub, who leads the Ethics and Accountability Initiative at the Project on Government Oversight (POGO), about what elected and other government officials, and the public can do to create and implement long-lasting reforms to shore up the barricades against authoritarianism.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/05-19-democracy-matters-episode-59.shtml

Episode 60: Free the Press

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 21 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Jim Acosta, CNN anchor for weekend programming and the network's chief domestic correspondent, about the critical role of a free press as necessary noise in a functioning democracy. Acosta weighs in on the implications of the January 6, 2021 violent attacks and the ongoing insurrection for democracy in America and why we need a bipartisan commission to investigate. "If we don't, we will have one political party deny what happened on January 6," says Acosta, and we're likely to see future protests or attempts to overturn results in future elections if one party doesn't like the outcome.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/05-21-democracy-matters-episode-60.shtml

Episode 61: Pulling Democracy Back from the Brink

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 28 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Why do we have to run an obstacle course when we go to vote every two years in federal elections? How can Congress strengthen American democratic institutions and the right to vote by implementing new policies and procedures that will protect voting rights, limit corruption, expose "Dark Money" in politics, and make the political process more transparent? What can be done to address systemic disenfranchisement and voter suppression of historically minoritized and marginalized groups in the United States? In this episode, we talk with Congressman John Sarbanes about what it will take to secure voting rights for every American and restore confidence in elections and government. Congressman Sarbanes chairs the Democracy Reform Task Force, which has assembled HR1, the For The People Act, to reform and strengthen our democracy.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/05-28-democracy-matters-episode-61.shtml

Episode 62: Moving Beyond the 'Band Aid on Wound' Approach to Refugees

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

For World Refugee Day, we talk with Jana Mason, Senior External Relations Advisor at the Washington, D.C. office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR-the UN Refugee Agency) about the root causes of forced migration and the global refugee crisis, and what we can do to take action on important issues facing refugees.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/06-18-democracy-matters-episode-62.shtml

Episode 63: Durable Policy Solutions to the Humanitarian Crisis in Central America

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Julio Rank Wright, Deputy Regional Director for Latin America at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), joins us to discuss the growing humanitarian crisis in northern Central America (El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala) that continues to force thousands of people to flee for safety in neighboring countries and the United States, and durable policy solutions to address the crisis.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/06-22-democracy-matters-episode-63.shtml

Bonus: E-Carceration and the Price of the American Dream

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Diego F. Salinas, a JMU alum and our 20-21 Woodson Martin Democracy Fellow, reads his essay on E-Carceration and the Price of the American Dream.

Episode 64: Divergent Access and the Future of Voting Rights

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In the wake of the Supreme Court's Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee ruling, we are left asking what is a usual or unusual burden to voting and which voting restrictions might be more or less vulnerable to legal challenge. We talk with Michael Burns, the National Director for Fair Elections Center's Campus Vote Project, about the history of voting rights and the implications of the Supreme Court's decision on voting access and rights.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/07-08-democracy-matters-episode-64.shtml

Episode 65: 9/11 at 20 Mini Series Major Michael Benner

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and explore the consequences of the U.S. response, the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement and JMU X-Labs have partnered to share and highlight the contributions of James Madison University alumni who commissioned through the ROTC and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. In this episode, Major Michael Benner, shares his experiences and observations from five deployments. He concludes by encouraging everyone to 'be part of something bigger than yourself.'

Episode 66: 9/11 at 20 Mini Series Gregory Sullivan

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and explore the consequences of the U.S. response, the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement and JMU X-Labs have partnered to share and highlight the contributions of James Madison University alumni who commissioned through the ROTC and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. In this episode, Gregory Sullivan shares his experiences, which included two combat deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and two years as a diplomat in Bogota, Colombia during the historic war-to-peace time transition.

Episode 67: 9/11 at 20 Mini Series Samantha Huie

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and explore the consequences of the U.S. response, the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement and JMU X-Labs have partnered to share and highlight the contributions of James Madison University alumni who commissioned through the ROTC and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. In this episode, we talk with Samantha Huie. Samantha was a helicopter pilot and served as Brigade Aviation Officer, Company Commander and most recently as an Aviation team Lead.

Episode 68: 9/11 at 20 Mini Series Dr. Mark Ehler

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and explore the consequences of the U.S. response, the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement and JMU X-Labs have partnered to share and highlight the contributions of James Madison University alumni who commissioned through the ROTC and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. In this episode, Dr. Mark Ehlers, shares his experiences and observations from his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Episode 69: 9/11 at 20 Steven R. Shapiro

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Steven R. Shapiro, the former Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union, the nation's oldest and largest civil liberties organization, founded over a century ago in response to the massive suppression of freedom of speech and the press by the government during World War I. Mr. Shapiro shares his legal experiences and expertise regarding the consequences for civil liberties of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and the government's response.

Episode 70: 9/11 at 20 Terry Kessler

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Terry Kessler shares his experiences, including two tours of duty as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Terry attended James Madison University where he was commissioned through ROTC as a Medical Service Officer in 2003. He was also a member of the Virginia Army National Guard from 1997 to 2003. Terry is now working for the Department of Veteran Affairs at the Martinsburg, WV VAMC with Veterans as a Licensed Certified Social Worker.

Episode 71: Can We Make Elections Fair?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode we talk with Dr. Jon A. Krosnick from Stanford University about how we can make elections more fair.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/07-27-democracy-matters-episode-71.shtml

Episode 72: 9/11 at 20 Marilyn Houde

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and explore the consequences of the U.S. response, the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement and JMU X-Labs have partnered to share and highlight the contributions of James Madison University alumni who commissioned through the ROTC and served in the Global War on Terror. In this episode, Marilyn Houde shares her experiences in the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade. She discusses how we can learn from local leaders and improve governance through defense, diplomacy and development.

Episode 73: Making Sense of Collective Mass Trauma: Lessons from the 9/11 Commission

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 extremist terrorist attacks on the United States driven by Usama bin Ladin. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Philip Zelikow, who served as the executive director of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, better known as the "9/11 Commission." The Commission's landmark report was published in 2004 and provides an authoritative narrative on the attacks and U.S. response to them. The Commission's work and report provide lessons for making sense of collective mass trauma and reimagining more responsive governing institutions.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/08-11-democracy-matters-episode-73.shtml

Episode 74: 9/11 at 20 Lieutenant Colonel Dan Curran

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United states and explored the consequences of the U.S. response, the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement and JMU X-Labs have parterened to share and highlight the contributions of James Madison University alumni who commissioned through the ROTC and served in the Global War on Terror. In this episode, Lieutenant Colonel Dan Curran shares his experiences with the JMU ROTC program and the impact it has, what makes a patriot, as well as the betrayal of the Kurds.

Episode 75: 9/11 at 20 Joshua L. Dratel

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

How did the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States impact the criminal legal system? What are the challenges of litigating national security and terrorism cases? How did 9/11 and subsequent national security and terrorism cases impact how the legal system treats citizens and non-citizens convicted of terrorism offenses? Is torture justified under any circumstances? How have national security and terrorism legal cases changed over the last two decades? Leading terrorism and national security legal expert Joshua L. Dratel answers these questions and discusses how the national security state and the war on terrorism have impacted democracy and justice.

Episode 76: Enormous Stakes Politics: Why Redistricting Matters Feat. David Wasserman

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

"In an era of high geographic polarization and historically low ticket-splitting, meaning that people know well in advance of an election who they are going to vote for, redistricting and how the lines are drawn matters a great deal. It's almost existential for election outcomes," says redistricting expert David Wasserman, Senior Editor, U.S. House of Representatives for The Cook Political Report. Learn more about why redistricting matters and what's at stake.

Episode 77: 9/11 at 20 Dr. Terri Rodzevik

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Dr. Terri Rodzevik served in the United States Army Nurse Corps from 2004-2009 with two deployments to Iraq, including to Tikrit and Baghdad. She currently serves in the United States Public Health Service as a Supervisory Research Nurse Practitioner for the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Disease in Phoenix, AZ and as a Supervisory Nurse Practitioner for the Indian Health Service at Phoenix Indian Medical Center Emergency Department.

Episode 78: 9/11 at 20 Lieutenant Colonel Dan Maurer

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Lt. Col. Dan Maurer, a JMU alum, Judge Advocate, an Assistant Professor of Law at U.S. Military Academy at Westpoint and a Fellow with the Modern War Institute, discusses September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the U.S. response to the terrorist attacks and consequences for military justice and civil-military relations.

Episode 79: The 26th Amendment at 50: Racial Justice and Youth Political Power Feat. Carolyn Quilloin Coleman

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

For Constitution Day 2021 and to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution, we talk with Carolyn Quilloin Coleman who started her activism work as a teenager protesting segregation in Savannah, Georgia. In April 1969, she organized the NAACP-sponsored Youth Mobilization conference in Washington, D.C. The gathering brought together 2,000 young people from 33 states to lobby Congress in support of youth voting rights.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/09-06-democracy-matters-episode-79.shtml

Episode 80: 9/11 at 20 Major Robert Kennedy

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

"There are many ways to serve our democracy. Get informed, get educated, do something that matters to you." In this episode, Major Robert Kennedy, who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, shares his experiences serving in the Army. MAJ Kennedy was recently assigned to the Army G-3/5/7, where he assesses Army Readiness.

Episode 81: 9/11 at 20 Aaron Shapiro

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

"I was shocked by the speed at which the Taliban was able to retake control...It makes me wonder about political and military decisions that have been made over the last 20 years...It's agonizing to hear about the human rights advocates, military interpreters and even American citizens who were left behind. I appreciate the band aid needed to be ripped off eventually...Did we know all along that the government would immediately collapse without us putting money into those programs? How long did we know that the situation was untenable but remained? Ultimately, I've been battling with the question of what was the point." In this episode, we talk with Aaron Shapiro, JMU Business Administration, '06, who deployed to Afghanistan and served as a Disbursing Officer at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Episode 82: Lieutenant Colonel Nick Swayne

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Lieutenant Colonel Nick Swayne, who served in the Army for 26 years and deployed to Bosnia, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. In 2001, he assumed the role of leading James Madison University's ROTC program and was a professor of military science. Dr. Swayne is currently the director of JMU's X-Labs.

Episode 83: 9/11 at 20 Jim Biddle

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Jim Biddle who graduated from JMU's College of Business in 2005. After completing ROTC training and commissioning into the Army, he joined the National Guard and deployed twice to Iraq.

Episode 84: Vibrant Inclusive Public Spaces to Strengthen Social Ties

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

David Trouille, an Associate Professor of Sociology at James Madison University, discusses his new book, Futbol in the Park: Immigrants, Soccer, and the Creation of Social Ties. Dr. Trouille's ethnographic research helps us understand the nuances and complexities of the Latino immigrant experience and the importance of vibrant public spaces where people can gather and strengthen social ties.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/09-16-democracy-matters-episode-83.shtml

Episode 85: Connecting Afghanistan's Past and Present

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Afghanistan has a rich history of self-determination and has long served as an international crossroads of cultural, economic and political activity. It has also been the target of imperialism, attempted colonization and intervention, particularly in the last hundred year. Dr. Shah Mahmoud Hanifi, Professor of History at James Madison University, shares his expertise on the history of Afghanistan in order to better understand the present moment.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/09-21-democracy-matters-episode-85.shtml

Episode 86: 9/11 at 20 Nicolle Johnson

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

As part of our 9/11 at 20 series, Nicolle Johnson shares her experiences from deployments to Iraq. On strengthening democracy, she concludes: "Vote. That's the cornerstone of our democracy and every person should have that vote, and in our democracy it should be the easiest thing you do. I support federal minimum standards for the right to vote."

Episode 87: Racism on Virginia Campuses: A Visual Study

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Trigger Warning: This episode and associated images contain information regarding violence and hate aimed against Black Americans. In this episode, Stephen C. Poulson, Professor of Sociology at James Madison University, discusses his new book Racism on Campus: A Visual History of Prominent Virginia Colleges and Howard University (New York: Routledge Press, 2021). Racism on Campus provides a systemic exploration of yearbooks as means for capturing institutional norms and changes associated with race relations at universities. It also reveals the role that institutions of higher education play in ordering race relations and perpetuating racism not only on campus, but into wider society.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/09-29-democracy-matters-episode-87.shtml

Episode 88: 9/11 at 20 Ryan Powell

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

As part of our 9/11 at 20 series, Ryan Powell, JMU Sociology '07 alum shares his experiences from two deployments to Iraq. He says "Strengthening democracy truly is appreciating people with different viewpoints." In 2018, Ryan received an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University. He currently works as a Vice President in Business Continuity for City National Bank in Los Angeles, CA.

Episode 89: Democracy's Struggle Against Itself featuring Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The challenges facing democracy around the world are daunting, especially as global conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the erosion of civil liberties, the postponement of elections and the spread of disinformation campaigns. Despite global democratic erosion, Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary General of International IDEA, says "the explosion of civic activism globally in traditionally inhospitable places" is good news.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/10-28-democracy-matters-episode-89.shtml

Episode 90: Saving Democracy

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, JMU Health Sciences '05, about his experiences fighting for democracy on January 6, 2021. "These people were minutes, seconds, feet away from hanging the Vice President. Just sit with that," says Officer Dunn. He is speaking out for justice and accountability because, "People are trying to rewrite history right in front of us...Terrorism is what they did that day. In my mind, they're coming back. We have to hold them accountable."

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/11-02-democracy-matters-episode-90.shtml

Episode 91: Climate Action Now

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

As the COP26 summit convenes in Glasgow to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, JMU scholars share solutions that will have the greatest impact.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/11-03-democracy-matters-episode-91.shtml

Episode 92: Political Voices of GenZ

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

What has contributed to the rise of political engagement among young adults? Drs. Laurie Rice and Kenneth Moffett, Professors of Political Science at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, join us to discuss their new book, The Political Voices of GenZ.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/11-29-democracy-matters-episode-92.shtml

Episode 93: Advocating Democracy in Africa

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

More sub-Saharan Africans live under fully or partially authoritarian states today than at most points in the last two decades. In its 2021 report, Freedom House rated only eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa as free. Of these eight, half are small island states. The number of African countries that Freedom House rated "not free" grew from a low of 14 in 2006 and 2008 to 20 in 2021. Among sub-Saharan countries considered "partially free," increasingly populist governments are suppressing opposition groups, postponing elections, eliminating term limits, and abusing human rights to maintain power. In this episode, Tamara White, a research and project assistant in the Africa Growth Initiative at the Brookings Institution, joins us to discuss the state of democracy in Africa.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/12-01-democracy-matters-episode-93.shtml

Episode 94: Fighting Political Gridlock Starts with States

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

"We don't have a choice," says David J. Toscano about the critical need to bring policymakers and people together to solve pressing public problems and especially on divisive issues - from criminal legal system reform and policing to immigration. In his new book, Fighting Political Gridlock: How States Shape Our Nation And Our Lives, Mr. Toscano argues that addressing the challenges to democracy must start at the state and local level.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/12-02-democracy-matters-episode-94.shtml

Episode 95: 9/11 at 20 MAJ (R) Shawn Pardee

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

As part of our 9/11 at 20 series, we talk with MAJ (R) Shawn Pardee, who deployed twice to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. On what we can do to strengthen our democracy, Shawn says, "I think it's by educating yourself and getting out there and voting and taking your stance because ultimately it's us who choose the people to represent us. It's up to us to pick the best person to do that."

Episode 96: Can Hard Conversations Save Democracy?

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

"Social change cannot happen with a bulldozer. It takes moments of awareness building," says Christy Vines, President and CEO of Ideos institute. Vines joins us to discuss the importance of empathy and empathetic leadership ahead of the National Day of Dialogue on January 5, 2022.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2021/12-22-democracy-matters-episode-96.shtml

Episode 97: Living Up To the Ideals of Democracy Through Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

"If we start creating compassionate ways of understanding and connecting with one another, then we will have the permanent motivation to live up to our espoused and aspirational ideals as a democracy," says Dr. Gail Christopher, author of the new book RX Racial Healing. Dr. Christopher joins us to discuss how we can approach addressing the effects of racism and reimagine more just and equitable economies, societies and democracies.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2022/02-01-democracy-matters-episode-97.shtml

Ep. 98: Opportunity Lost: How We Failed Afghanistan Ft. Dr. Samiullah Nuristani

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

"Afghanistan could have been a successful case of state building, but the failure of the U.S. and international community to implement accountability led to the downfall of the regime," says Dr. Samiullah Nuristani, former Head of Policy and Planning in the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. "Most of the aid was lost to waste and fraud. There is a lack of political will to address corruption." Dr. Samiullah Nuristani (JMU Public Administration '09, JMU Master's of Public Administration, '11 and Strategic Leadership Studies, '20), who is a Research Associate in the JMU Mahatma Gandhi Center's Justice and Nonviolence Research Lab, shares his journey as a refugee, and his experiences and expertise on governance in Afghanistan. Dr. Nuristani also highlighted the importance of democratic legitimacy: "What gives legitimacy to any regime is the people's consent. We have to ensure that democracy is formed organically and not imposed externally or by domestic elites."

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2022/2-25-democracy-matters-episode-98.shtml

Ep. 99: Democracy Trends in Africa ft. Joanne Gabbin, Melinda Adams, Philip Onyekachukwu, Tamara White and Meagan Allen

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

As part of the 12th Annual African, African American and Diaspora Studies (AAAD) Interdisciplinary Conference in 2022, JMU Civic and Furious Flower hosted a discussion on what friends and advocates of Africa should understand about democratic trends on the continent and what they can do to support democracy.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2022/02-25-democracy-matters-episode-99.shtml

Ep. 100: The Stakes of Difficult Knowledge ft. Oren Stier

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Dr. Oren Baruch Stier, Director of the Holocaust and Genocide Studies Program and Professor of Religious Studies in the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International University, joins us to discuss teaching and learning "difficult knowledge" and what the public history of the Holocaust and its memory can teach us about civic engagement and today's memorial landscape. "Public memory of the Holocaust and other difficult histories are a high-stakes competition over contested memories, says Dr. Stier, "Charlottesville reminds us that we can't disentangle 20th century racism."

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2022/02-25-democracy-matters-episode-100.shtml

Russia Invasion of Ukraine: Causes and Consequences

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Daniel Beers, Colleen Moore, John Hulsey and Bernie Kaussler join us to provide historical and political context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the humanitarian and geopolitical consequences.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2022/01-news.shtml

Ep. 102: Talking Back to Power Through Art ft. Aram Han Sifuentes

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

"Art can create the space, set the tone, to not even acknowledge power and to create a world for ourselves," says Aram Han Sifuentes, a fiber and social practice artist, writer, and educator who works to center immigrant and disenfranchised communities.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2022/04-12-democracy-matters-episode-102.shtml

Ep. 103: Investing for Democracy ft. Ian Simmons

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

What role can and should investors play in strengthening democracy? Ian Simmons, Co-Founder and Principal of Blue Haven Initiative, discusses impact investing, universal voting, foreign money in U.S. politics, the so-called wealth tax and more.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2022/04-26-democracy-matters-episode-103.shtml

Episode 105: The Invention of Legal Rights with Dr. Laura Edwards

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Democracy Matters, we speak with Dr. Laura Edwards, who is a legal historian and professor at Princeton University to discuss how she became involved in her research focused on the 19th century United States, her contributions to civic engagement, what a historian's role is in presenting issues, and her constitution lecture here on campus September 22.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://history.princeton.edu/people/laura-f-edwards

Episode 106: What Should Centers for Civic Engagement Do For Higher Education? An Interview with David Kirkpatrick and Kara Dillard

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Madison Center for Civic Engagement Democracy Fellow Leia Surovell interviews the new interim Executive Director, Dr. David Kirkpatrick and the new interim Associate Director Dr. Kara Dillard about their vision for the Madison Center and their views for what campus Centers for Civic Engagement should do for higher education.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/civic/index.shtml

Episode 107: Innovations in Teaching Democracy at the Elementary School Level

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

March 6-10th is National Civics Education Week and on this episode of Democracy Matters, we're exploring youth civic education. We talk with Dr. Stacie Molnar-Main, research associate in civic education and deliberative pedagogy with the Kettering Foundation, and a school climate consultant for the Pennsylvania Department of Education about her research into elementary school's integrating deliberative democracy into the classrooms.

Episode 108: Solutions to the campus free speech woes: An interview with ALL IN Democracy Challenge's Stephanie King and JMU Debate

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

It feels like free speech has become the number one issue confronting higher education today. Campuses are now hotbeds of discontent. Students are sitting in, protesting questionable speakers on campus. State elected officials are dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programming. So what is being done to address the campus free speech woes? Stephanie King, senior director of strategic initiatives for the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, and Dannise Brown and Adonis Ortiz, members of the Madison Debate Society at James Madison University provide us with some answers to campus free speech issues.

Episode 109: European democracy at a crossroads: An interview with Minister Counselor Markus Teglas

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 02 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Germany has a history of being at the center of global debates about democracy. As Europe again finds itself dealing with democracy in crisis, this time with Russia's war against Ukraine, Minister Counselor Markus Teglas asks us to consider Europe again at a crossroads and what Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the rise of right wing populist movements across the continent means for global democracy.

Episode 110: The tensions between expertise and democracy: An interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci

James Madison Center for Civic Engagement — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Anthony Fauci about the tensions between expertise and democratic decision-making during the pandemic, and his advice for navigating apathy and misinformation during the next major public health crisis.

See the show notes with links mentioned in this episode at https://j.mu/news/civic/2023/07-26-democracy-matters-episode-110.shtml