Shepherd University
09/06/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/06/2024 11:11
Year of Civility begins with a public forum
ISSUED: 6 September 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV - The Year of Civility, a collaboration between Shepherd University and the Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications, began with a forum on September 5 called "Beyond Pepperoni Rolls: Who Are We as West Virginians?" at the Frank Arts Center Theater.
The forum featured two U.S. Senators from West Virginia, from different political parties.
Moderator Hoppy Kercheval, host of MetroNews Talkline, led Senators Shelly Moore Capito (R) and Joe Manchin (I) through a conversation about the often complex identity of Mountain State residents.
Just as the program began, a group of more than a dozen climate change protestors came on stage, unfurled a banner, and began chanting at Senator Manchin.
Security removed the protestors after a few minutes and the program resumed, with Senator Manchin explaining that the group, none of whom were students at Shepherd, follows him to public events.
He said they are not interested in talking, only disrupting.
"Protestors are good, they'll come, and I'll say, 'Just come sit and talk with me. Just come into my office and let's talk our differences.' They do not," Manchin said.
The theme of civility became more prominent after the contrast of the disruption, with Senator Capito explaining that West Virginians know the importance of remaining civil, even when you disagree with someone, because of the state's closeknit community.
"Anywhere you go you're going to run into somebody who your kids play ball against, or you went to church with, or your husband went to high school with, or a variety of ways that our lives have intersected."
The forum is part of the ongoing American Conversation Series at the Stubblefield Institute.
Year of Civility events will be held on Shepherd's campus throughout the 2024-2025 academic year. For more information about the Year of Civility and to learn about its upcoming events, visit www.shepherd.edu/the-year-of-civility.
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