Thinking out loud together
Why civil discourse matters on campus
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
1 - 2:30 p.m. MT
In this insightful talk, novelist and professor Randy Boyagoda, who serves as the University of Toronto’s Advisor on Civil Discourse, will address the crucial role that civil discourse plays within academic institutions. Civil discourse, according to Professor Boyagoda, goes beyond mere conversation—it is a commitment to engaging with others thoughtfully and respectfully, both inside and outside the classroom, to foster a collaborative exchange of ideas. In a time when academic communities are increasingly polarized by conflicts, divides, and extreme positions, civil discourse offers a vital pathway for individuals to engage in meaningful dialogue.
Professor Boyagoda argues that civil discourse matters because it provides a framework for people to recognize, respect, and wrestle with differences and disagreements. Rather than viewing these differences as obstacles, civil discourse encourages participants to see them as opportunities for learning, growth, and mutual understanding. By thinking out loud together, members of the academic community can reach a shared understanding of important issues and ideas, even when they approach them from divergent perspectives.
This presentation will also highlight how civil discourse contributes to the broader mission of universities. Not only does it advance knowledge and support the pursuit of truth, but it also plays a key role in promoting the common good. Civil discourse enables students, faculty, and administrators to navigate complex and often contentious issues in a way that builds bridges rather than deepens divides. It creates a more inclusive and respectful environment where all voices are heard and considered, ultimately leading to more thoughtful and informed decision-making.
Through this presentation, Professor Boyagoda will underline the importance of civil discourse as a tool for overcoming division, resolving conflicts, and fostering a more united and collaborative academic community. This talk will serve as a call to action for universities to prioritize civil discourse as a central element of their intellectual and social fabric, ensuring that future generations are equipped with the skills and mindset to engage productively with others in a diverse and often divided world.
Dr. Randy Boyagoda (he/him) serves as Provostial Advisor on Civil Discourse at the University of Toronto. A Professor of English in the Faculty of Arts and Science, where he most recently served as Vice-Dean, Undergraduate, and, previously, as Principal of St. Michael’s College where he also held the Basilian Chair in Christianity, Arts and Letter, Professor Boyagoda is a novelist and literary critic.
He is the author of six books, including four novels, most recently . His research and writing have been supported by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Ontario Arts Council, and his work has been nominated for the ScotiaBank Giller Prize, the IMPAC Dublin Literary Prize, and named a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year. He contributes essays, reviews, and opinions to publications including the Atlantic, the New York Times, and The Financial Times (UK), regularly appears on CBC Radio, and hosts a literary podcast for the Toronto Public Library.
Born in Oshawa to Sri Lankan immigrants, Professor Boyagoda received his BA from the University of Toronto and MA and PhD in English from Boston University and lives in the east end of Toronto with his wife and their four daughters.
Join us!
Thinking out loud together: Why civil discourse matters on campus
Presented by ɫ Community Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy and the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as part of UFlourish and Courageous Conversations.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
1 - 2:30 p.m. MT
VIRTUAL - Mathison Hall Event Centre MTH306A + online
Dr. Malinda S. Smith (she/her) is the inaugural Vice Provost and Associate Vice President Research (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) and a full professor of political science at the ɫ. Prior to joining the UCalgary she was a full professor of political science at the University of Alberta, where she held various roles including Provost Fellow (EDI Policy) in the Office of the Provost, and Associate Chair (Graduate Studies) in the Department of Political Science.
Dr. Smith has served on numerous higher education governance committees, including as Vice President (Equity Issues) for the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, and as Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion External Review Committee for the Canada Research Chairs. Currently, she serves on SSHRC Governing Council and Executive; as Vice Chair of the Inter-Institutional Advisory Committee for the Scarborough Charter, on Statistics Canada’s Immigration and Ethnocultural Statistics Advisory Committee; and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s External EDI Advisory Board.
Dr. Smith is the coauthor, editor, or coeditor of 7 books, numerous articles, book chapters and reports and has given dozens of invited keynotes and public lectures in the areas of equity, diversity, human rights, and decolonization in higher education, African political economy, and international relations. Dr. Smith is the coauthor of(2017); coeditor of (OUP 2023); the (UofT Press, 2022); (BTL 2010). and three books on Africa, including(2010).
Dr. Smith is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, including Calgary Black Chambers’ Lifetime Achievement Award (2023), an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Simon Fraser University (2021), Compelling Calgarians (2021), the International Studies Association’s Women’s Caucus’s Susan S. Northcutt Award (2020), 100 Accomplished Black Women Honouree (2020), the ISA-Canada Distinguished Scholar Award (2018-19), P.E. Trudeau Foundation Fellow (2018), the HSBC Community Contributor of the Year Award (2016); and the Canadian Association of University Teachers’ Equity Award (2015).
Dr. Andrew Szeto (he/him) is the Director of the Mental Health Strategy and is responsible for guiding the implementation of the recently renewed ɫ’s Community Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy. He is also a Full Professor in the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts. Over the past 14 years, Dr. Szeto has focused on the development and evaluation of mental illness stigma reduction and mental health promotion programs, such as,,and.
Dr. Szeto also conducts basic research that examines the stigma of mental illnesses through a social psychological lens, as well as with his transdisciplinary network of collaborators. In line with his strategy work, his more recent research has focused on mental health, well-being, and resilience of the post-secondary community. He is also a member of the Technical Committee that developed the Canadian Standards Association and Mental Health Commission of Canada’s. Dr. Szeto continues to publish academic articles on various topics related to mental health and well-being and the stigma of mental illness.
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Audio + Video Archives
For a full list of all recorded Courageous Conversations Speaker Series sessions and other EDIA audio and video archives presented by the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at UCalgary.