Campuses Need Viewpoint Diversity. How Can They Foster It?

Key Findings:

Ariella Saperstein, Sapir Associate Publisher, interviews Caroline Mehl, co-founder and executive director of the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI).

Mehl, the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, shares that her commitment to viewpoint diversity stemmed from her curiosity about how societies can accept and commit acts of genocide, leading her to establish CDI. 

Saperstein inquires about the current climate on college campuses, where the ability to listen to opposing perspectives is scarce. Mehl emphasizes that intellectual humility, metacognition, and empathy are key parameters for successful, meaningful dialogue. 

The conversation shifts to the campus climate surrounding Israel following the events of Oct 7. Mehl describes the protests and encampments as challenging for universities to navigate, as they sit in the gray area between freedom of speech and Title VI violations. She suggests consistently enforced policies that both affirm the university's commitment to free speech while simultaneously defining behaviors that violate campus rules. 

A university's purpose is to create learning environments where students are encouraged to engage in conversation and learn from one another. Mehl suggests that universities model the spirit of fair debate by inviting guest speakers to engage in meaningful, civil discussions. 

The interview also touches on DEI programs and their relevance to Jewish students. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives have generally proved unsuccessful, causing division on campus amongst students. Jews, a culturally and racially diverse group, do not fit its simplistic framework.  

The key to building a pluralistic environment on campus is to focus on common threads between individuals and fostering shared identity tied to the university. Mehl advocates for building connections between different identity groups through learning about one another’s cultures and traditions. 

Due to the Jewish community’s history of spirited debate, Mehl believes that Jewish leaders and organizations are uniquely suited to be leaders on campus regarding these initiatives.