Panel discussion focuses on many facets of civic engagement

Panel members Dr. Robert Knight, Shaunda French and Dr. Matt Evertson offered their opinions and entertained questions from students and others in the audience.

The event was one of four panel discussions organized by Dr. Dave Nesheim to help recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day which has also been called the Day of Service or A Day On instead of a day off, by various campaigns across the country.

French started the discussion by asking those in attendance what they think of when they hear “civic engagement."

Evan Brooks of Ontario, California, responded that he thinks civic engagement means being involved in one’s community without pay.

Knight asked whether political or non-political civic engagement is more rewarding.

Brooks again responded, saying the rewards from non-political civic engagement are more immediate.

He went on to refer to his experience helping with the political campaign to place the Chadron swimming pool issue on the ballot in November 2014.

“I felt like a bill collector calling people. It wasn’t fun. If I didn’t have to do it for class, I wouldn’t have done it,” Brooks said.

In contrast, Shelby Anderson of Lakeside, Nebraska, offered a comment about non-political service. She said she volunteered at a nursing home and felt great about the experience with residents who were visibly grateful for her presence.

Rochelle Nelson of Kingston, Jamaica, also spoke about her rewarding time volunteering with the children at the CSC Child Development Center.

“Political engagement is not always as pleasant as non-political civic engagement. Controversy can make it less desirable, but the rewards can make it worth it,” Knight said.

During the next portion of the panel discussion, French asked how many in attendance were involved in the Big Event, an annual day designated for CSC to give back to the community. About one-third of the audience raised their hands. Only one student indicated that he was required to do so for a club or team.

Cheyenne Deering of Wall, South Dakota, told the group she believes that even if college students are forced into community service or civic engagement projects, they can gain a lot from it by getting outside themselves.

“When I worked with the Big Event, I saw how much the help was needed, and it was rewarding to make an impact while I'm here in Chadron,” she said.

Knight reiterated that psychological rewards can include a sense of fulfillment, purpose or accomplishment.

Other issues discussed during the hour-long program included civic engagement as a moral stance, free riders, networking, mobilization, social loafing, a sense of belonging and whether or not volunteers should be paid or otherwise rewarded.

To introduce the topic of civic engagement as a moral stance, Knight asked the audience members to consider the meaning of the following excerpt of a letter written by King when he was in the Birmingham jail: “In a real sense all life is inter-related. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly….”

Emma Stokely of West Point, Nebraska, said an example would be the protests in Ferguson, Missouri, which may bring about police reforms throughout the country.

Evertson mentioned that a student who enrolled in his First Year Inquiry service learning course discovered that she enjoyed helping with Campus Arboretum Volunteers projects. This, in turn, led to the discovery that she has a passion for plants and is considering changing her major.

Evertson said the class explores the light of altruism compared to the darkness of selfishness. His students are required to identify issues, then spend 20-30 hours in service learning and report back about what they did and what they learned.

“Even if service learning is coerced, it’s like your veggies. It’s good for you. You do get a lot out of it and realize you make difference,” he said.

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