Bears Engage opens dialogue on democracy and culture

Bears Engage, a Lenoir-Rhyne University initiative designed to foster inclusive, nonpartisan civic dialogue, continues this spring. The program’s tailored events invite students and community members to engage thoughtfully with timely issues through discussion, music and the arts.

Rooted in civic discourse

Bears Engage traces its roots to fall 2024, when Clinton Jenkins, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, organized a speaker and discussion series leading up to the 2024 elections. Under the theme “Democracy and Dialogue,” the series created space for conversation during a pivotal moment in the nation’s civic life and sparked broader collaboration across campus. After the 2024 election, additional events developed in partnership with the Visiting Writers Series and the Office of Student Engagement, expanding the effort to include a comprehensive roster of programming. 

“It’s exciting to see Bears Engage become a regular part of the university’s programming,” Jenkins said. “I hope it continues to encourage a spirit of civic engagement across our campus for many years to come.”

Now in its second year, Bears Engage has evolved into a deliberately planned and collaborative effort. The 2025–26 theme, “Voices of America,” reflects on American life, democracy and the arts in connection with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Collaboration across campus and community

“This initiative grew out of a desire to spark engagement and discussion rooted in Lutheran traditions of respect and inquiry,” said Amy Hedrick, Ph.D., dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “Bears Engage is about creating and holding space for communication among students, faculty, staff and the broader community. These programs are designed to foster understanding and connection while modeling how to have difficult conversations with care and respect.”

“This year’s programming reflects an intentional approach to themes of American culture,” Hedrick added. “What began organically has grown into a truly interdepartmental, cross-campus and cross-community effort. We welcome new ideas, partnerships and collaboration, and the support from Academic Affairs has been instrumental in sustaining this work.”

That collaborative spirit is evident in the variety of events offered this semester, which are designed to be accessible and inclusive to varied audiences through different formats and convenient scheduling.

February events highlight history and the arts

The next Bears Engage event of the spring semester will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. in the Rudisill Library Colloquium Room. Rand Brandes, Ph.D., Lenoir-Rhyne professor emeritus, will lead a discussion of “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century” by Yale historian Timothy Snyder. The event was organized by Taylor Newton, Ph.D., professor of psychology, and Rebecca Alt, Ph.D., associate professor of communication studies, exemplifying collaboration across the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Fine Arts and Communication, along with student and community partners.

“This event is open to both our students and the wider community,” Newton said. “I expect that some of Snyder’s lessons will resonate more strongly with older participants, while others may speak more directly to our college students. Exploring those generational differences will add depth to our discussion of historical and contemporary resistance to abuses of power in civic life.”

Alt emphasized the broader civic goals of the discussion. “I’d love to see participants walk away feeling empowered and motivated to invest their time, talents and voices in critical discussions and community organizing happening at the local level. That’s where change has to start — and where engaging in democratic life has the most immediate effect on the future we hope to build,” she said.

Bears Engage will continue on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. with Mardi Gras, a musical performance by the Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony in P.E. Monroe Auditorium. The concert celebrates New Orleans traditions and features music by American composers, including the Artie Shaw Clarinet Concerto performed by clarinet professor Kania Mills. Student artwork inspired by Mardi Gras will also be displayed in the auditorium atrium in collaboration with the art department.

“This concert is a celebration of Mardi Gras and the music of the South, especially jazz,” said Tyler Stark. “Jazz is a uniquely American expression, born from the melting pot of cultures in New Orleans, and it shows how distinctive styles emerge from our diversity.”

Through spring and beyond

Additional spring programming includes a panel discussion titled What Binds a Nation? on Tuesday, March 17, at 6 p.m. Scholars from multiple disciplines will examine the forces that create unity, connection and common purpose at a time when many Americans feel increasingly divided. The event is organized by Jenkins.

Another upcoming program, War, Peace or Chaos: Indigenous Perspectives on the End of the World, will take place Tuesday, April 14, at 6 p.m. Drawing on Native prophetic traditions and lived experiences, the panel will explore how Indigenous communities have navigated repeated crises since 1492 and how those perspectives can inform responses to contemporary global challenges.

Hedrick noted that strong attendance from both campus and community members has become a hallmark of Bears Engage events, and she hopes to see continued growth for the program.

“These are not always easy conversations to have,” Hedrick said. “But they are necessary. Bears Engage opens dialogue in a moment when bringing people together takes intention — and someone has to be willing to start the conversation.