UMaine Launches Civility Campaign – ‘The New Commitment’
Contact: Sandra Sigmon, 581-2049; George Manlove, 581-3756
ORONO — Stress and hardship can bring out the best in people, or the worst. With that in mind as the economic crisis stresses so many people, the University of Maine President’s Council on Women is launching a campus-wide initiative to promote civility.
In times of duress, civil interactions are most important, says psychology professor Sandra Sigmon, a President’s Council on Women co-chair, and often it is in times of duress that thoughtful social interactions can fall by the wayside.
A central tenet of civility is respect, Sigmon says. “Civility can be conveyed by courteous expression, politeness, esteem or regard for others, and a general respect for others, regardless of differences from self,” she says.
To promote civility and to educate the campus community about civility, the President’s Council on Women has planned lectures, panel discussions and a student poster contest at UMaine, as part of a series of free and public activities scheduled through April 28.
With support from all of UMaine’s colleges and administrative units, several departments and organizations, the initiative includes a series of panel discussions on civility that will culminate in a keynote address April 28 and a workshop on civility on Maine Day by Mark Kingwell, professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto, author of “A Civil Tongue: Justice, Dialogue, and the Politics of Pluralism.” Kingwell also is a columnist and contributing editor for several magazines including Harper’s and the (Toronto) Globe and Mail.
A “random acts of civility” box will be set up at the information desk in the Memorial Union, where individuals can be nominated for a “commitment to civility act.” Information booths in the Union and at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center also will help spread the message. Volunteers who commit to being civil this semester will receive a button, and stress toys will be available in various campus locations.
Student groups on campus have been invited to submit poster ideas for the civility campaign. Monetary prizes will be awarded for the top three posters, to be displayed in the Union and Recreation Center.
Some of the planned dates and events include:
Feb. 25, 12 p.m. in the Coe Room of the Memorial Union, a panel discussion on “Civility and Culture”;
March 25, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Bangor Room, Memorial Union, a panel on “Civility in the Workplace”
April 3, student civility poster competition deadline;
April 17, poster winners to be announced;
April 6, 12 p.m., a panel discussion on “Civility in the Classroom”;
April 28, 2:30 p.m., Aubert 316, keynote address by Mark Kingwell;
April 29, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Room 3 at Wells Conference Center, a public workshop on civility available to all employees, with Mark Kingwell;
The initiative, “Civility: The New Commitment,” is sponsored by the Office of the President; Office of Student Affairs; Office of Vice President of Administration and Finance; Office of Vice President of Academic Affairs & Provost, Office of Vice President for Research; Office of Equal Opportunity; Office of Human Resources; College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; College of Education and Human Development; College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, & Agriculture; College of Business, Public Policy and Health; College of Engineering; UMaine Graduate School; Canadian-American Center; Department of University Relations; the UMaine student chapter of the American Marketing Association; the Employee Assistance Program; and the Department of Psychology.