Bears Engage explores freedom and responsibility in America at 250

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Bears Engage series is looking beyond the commemoration to ask what comes next.

The 2026–27 theme, “Freedom and Responsibility,” invites students, faculty, staff and community members to consider how democratic values are sustained, what responsibilities accompany individual freedoms and how people can engage across differences with respect and purpose.

“This milestone for our country gives us an opportunity not only to think about the freedoms we value, but also about the responsibilities that come with them,” said Amy Hedrick, Ph.D., dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “We want to think about how we live together, especially when we don’t always agree.”

Bears Engage brings together programming from across the university, with events planned by leaders representing diverse areas of campus. Through dialogue, scholarship, creative expression and community engagement, the nonpartisan initiative is guided by Lutheran values of hospitality, humility and care for the common good. 

Events announced for the 2026–27 academic year include:

• “We the People” — Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6:30 p.m., P.E. Monroe Auditorium. The Lenoir-Rhyne Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony open their season with a musical reflection on the nation’s 250th anniversary, honoring those who have fought for freedom and democracy across generations. Free and open to the public.
• “Come From Away” — Nov. 5-8 and 12-15, Belk Centrum. The LR Playmakers present the award-winning musical based on the true story of the Newfoundland community that welcomed thousands of stranded airline passengers following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The production explores kindness, resilience and connection across cultures. Tickets are $10-$15; admission is free for students with an LR ID.
• Institute for Faith and Learning: D. Stephen Long — Monday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m., Grace Chapel. Co-sponsored by Bears Engage, the Institute for Faith and Learning welcomes the Rev. D. Stephen Long, Ph.D., for a discussion examining the language of responsibility and liberty in Christian speech and practice. Free and open to the public.
• Huffman Speaker Series on Social Justice: Tim Egan — Wednesday, March 3, 2027, 6:30 p.m., P.E. Monroe Auditorium. Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Tim Egan will deliver the inaugural Huffman Speaker Series on Social Justice lecture, “These Truths, These Threats: The Promise and Peril of the Next American Era.” The event is free and open to the public; ticketing information will be announced in spring 2027. 

“We’re not expecting everyone to come into these conversations from the same place,” Hedrick said. “The goal is to create space where people can listen to one another, ask questions and engage across differences with curiosity and respect.”

Additional Bears Engage programs will be announced throughout the academic year. Visit the Lenoir-Rhyne events calendar for the latest additions to the series.

Faculty and staff interested in hosting or organizing a Bears Engage event may also submit a brief proposal by email to Hedrick at amy.hedrick@lr.edu.