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Join the Davidson Honors College community for an informal discussion of democracy and what it means to be honorable.

Tim Nichols and Kaetlyn Cordingley

DHC Lounge

Start your day by warming up the most important muscle democracy requires- listening. Join College of Arts and Media Co-Dean Michael Musick and Professor Michael Rohd to creatively explore and strengthen your own ability to listen, and leave with tools to work this muscle out on your own every day.

Michael Rohd and Michael Musick

University Center Innovation Factory

Join Social Work Professor Amanda Cahill for a conversation about politics in Montana and how the leading narratives of personal responsibility undermine our social progress.

Amanda Cahill

UC 329

The Russian Presidential Election is set to take place on March 15-17, 2024. We will use this election as a frame and context for discussing the state of democracy, free speech, human rights, and the like in Russia today under Vladimir Putin.

Clint Walker

UC 326/327

Join Missoula County Elections Administrator Bradley Seaman for a conversation on: How voter registration works; Ballot Issuing and Processing; Student Specific Information; Election Integrity' And how to be involved!

Bradley Seaman

Todd 210

Join Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick and Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis in conversation as they discuss how the local and the national are intertwined in our daily experience of governance and politics.

Josh Slotnick and Andrea Davis

UC North Ballroom

In this session, award-winning UM history professor Kyle G. Volk talks about his approach to researching the history of U.S. democracy and his current project exploring the place of “personal liberty” in American public life.

Kyle Volk

Zoom session:

Join a conversation about the difference between free speech and academic freedom that asks--how do we move beyond what's allowed and towards what's productive.

Leslie Webb, Alicia Arant, Dave Kuntz, and Michael Rohd

Todd 203/204

Join Theater director and UM faculty member Bernadette Sweeney for a participatory workshop exploring Augusto Boal's globally recognized approach to using theatre for social change in government, community and education settings.

Bernadette Sweeney

McGill 125

Join Tobin Miller Shearer, Professor of History and African-American Studie, for this conversation that begins with stories from the Civil Rights Movement in which integrationists and segregationists – usually acting behind the scenes and out of the public eye – met to find a way forward. The stories of Vincent and Rosemarie Harding, Will Campbell, and others suggest examples for making connections across the political, social, and cultural divides that face us today.

Tobin Shearer

UC 326/327

In partnership with MontPIRG (Montana Public Interest Research Group), a student directed and funded non-partisan organization, the Mansfield Library will host a pop-up Civic Café on March 27th from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Library’s Learning Commons. Students will have the opportunity to engage with members of MontPIRG on a number of local issues over coffee, tea, and pastries, learning more about advocacy efforts and local non-partisan dialogues taking place in, and impacting, their community.

Natalie Bond

Mansfield Library Learning Commons

Join Missoula Mayopr Andrea Davis and ASUM President Maggie Bell in a conversation moderated by Chief of Staff to UM's President, Kelly Webster

Andrea Davis, Maggie Bell, and Kelly Webster

UC North Ballroom

What does democracy mean to immigrants and refugees? Join panelists Paul Mwingwa (World Refugee Council), Eamon Fahey (International Rescue Committee), Kari Hong, immigration attorney, Mary Poole and Rozan Shbib from Soft Landing Missoula, and other organizations and indivdiuals that welcome and assist refugees to explore the question: What is democracy to new Americans?

Paul Mwingwa, Eamon Fahey, Kari Hong, Mary Poole, Rozan Shbib, Gillian Glaes

Todd 203/204

Join Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ from the Global Leadership Initiative as they co-lead a workshop that invites UM Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ to design the ways they want college to prepare them for participation in a democratic society.

Michael Rohd, Sarah Griffin, Global Leadership Iniatiative Ñý¼§Ö±²¥

UC Innovation Factory

Join the Montana Media Lab’s Mary Auld for a quick workshop on audio journalism equipment and conducting interviews; stop by for 20 minutes, then, head out across campus to find your story. You’ll come back later in the day, edit , and quite possibly share your work as part of the Summit’s culminating event.

Mary Auld

Montana Media Lab, Don Anderson Hall

A conversation on how democracy could be expanded to address the rights of more-than-human phenomena (animals and plants but also rivers, glaciers, etc.). If the traditional exclusion of more-than-human entities from democracy in western politics can be regarded as a problem, on what grounds might we advocate for greater inclusivity? Should calls for “multispecies justice” be seen as a new basis for framing democratic reforms and (if so) how might such a politics avoid the pitfalls of green imperialism by drawing upon indigenous knowledge and/or activism in the global south as well as the global north?

Soazig Le Bihan and Louise Economides

UC 329

Join Missoula County Election Advisory Board chair and election scholar Christina Barsky for a spirited dialogue about how seemingly small choices can have tremendous impact on democracy. From the infamous butterfly ballot and Cyber Nijas to increasing calls for hand counting ballots and stricter voter ID requirements, this session will explore contemporary issues of consequence to the American elections system and everyday citizens.

Christina Barsky

Zoom session: 

Join leaders from Missoula Pride and the Western Montana LGBTQ+ Community Center for a conversation about how pride events like a parade or a performance can be both celebration and advocacy, and in the process, make democracy stronger and more just.

Devin Carpenter and the Missoula Pride Team

Todd 203/204

Visit our table and exercise your Right to Know! Under the Montana Constitution, you have a right to examine most documents held by state and local governments. Have a question or idea you want an answer to? Learned something new today and want to inquire more? Make an information request in as little as 5-10 minutes with the Montana Transparency Project.

Montana Transparency Project

UC Atrium

A roundtable discussion of how America's history has impacted Tribal sovereignty and governance with Karla Bird, Natook Kyiyaki, Tribal Outreach Specialist, Office of the President, UM; Patrick Lozar, Enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Assistant Professor of Native American Studies; Michelle Guzman, Shoshone-Bannock, Director of American Indian Student Services- UM; Kristina Lucero, Wsikem, Director American Indian Governance and Policy Institute; Victoria Parker, JD, Newe (Western Shoshone), Native American Support Specialist, Alexander Blewett III School of Law & Baucus Institute

Karla Bird, Patrick Lozar, Kristina Lucero, Victoria Parker, and Michelle Guzman

Urey Lecture hall and Zoom 

This session will be livestreamed in the form of a zoom meeting, but will not be interactive with online attendees. It is a public conversation between our 5 contributors that we are making accessible online.

With the rise of gaming, particularly in Gen Z, AI in gaming has the potential to influence democracy in very significant ways. Many people have navigated away from traditional news sources and turned to games, social media, and other entertainment platforms for information. It is incumbent on content creators, game designers, and developers to take careful consideration on how to embed artificial intelligence into the characters that users will interact with when playing games. This session will show examples of how subtle changes can affect one’s thinking and perception of reality.

Michael Cassens

Esports Center, UC 220

During the 6th century BCE, the Greeks invented a new form of government that they called demokratia (“power of the people”), whose defining characteristics were equality among and meaningful participation by all citizens, regardless of their socio-economic status. In this session, Professor Scott Arcenas (History & Classics) will give a short presentation and lead a longer conversation on this highly influential but widely misunderstood form of government.

Scott Arcenas

Zoom session: 

Join the Montana Media Lab’s Mary Auld to edit the audio you gathered during your interviews and shape the story you found.

Mary Auld

Montana Media Lab, Don Anderson Hall

Come learn about practicing philosophy with children. We will read a children's story, ask philosophical questions, engage in a lively discussion, and explore how to facilitate inquiry-based dialogue with kids. The pedagogy presents a real opportunity to engage in deliberative democracy and fosters democratic habits for an emergent citizenry.

Matthew Schertz and Erin O'Reilly

PJW College of Education 314

As the campus works to develop a sustainable vision for the University's future, join ASUM and the Provost's Office for a conversation, and be a part of imagining that future.

ASUM and Provost's Office

UC North Ballroom

This interactive discussion will bring together UM Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ who have served in a variety of capacities (Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Alt. Breaks, etc) for a lively conversation about public service and its connections to changemaking more broadly. The discussion will examine a variety of service options available, and explore the connections between service and the health of democracy and lifelong habits around civic and community engagement.

Josh Vanek

Todd 203/204

Join Garrett Cathcart, Executive Director of More Perfect Union, a national veteran led organization using service and civic dialogue to bridge gaps and make change, for a conversation about the opportunities and challenges in leveraging grassroots local organizing for scaled action and a healthy democracy.

Garrett Cathcart

Todd 210

Join President Seth Bodnar, the Mansfield Center, Co-Lab for Civic Imagination Director Michael Rohd, special guests and student representatives from around campus for remarks and reflections from the day.

Mary Auld, Katie Vaughan, Seth Bodnar and Michael Rohd

UC Ballroom

Please join Harvard political theorist Dr. Danielle Allen for her Presidential Lecture, which asks—How do we repair our fractured democracy? Dr. Allen believes the path to health lies through re-building a supermajority of people—of all political ideologies—ready to work together to support constitutional democracy. In a time of increased polarization and weakening trust, it might seem impossible to create such a supermajority. But Allen will show us where and how we can build this supermajority, and why it is important.

Danielle Allen

UC Ballroom

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