Wednesday, October 8: Creative Tensions: Where do you stand?
Presenter: Angela Kariotis, Center for Transformative Learning
Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm
Location: Twin Lights, Student Life Center
Description: Join us for Creative Tensions, an immersive, interactive event where you won’t just talk about your beliefs – you’ll physically take a stand. Through exercises, role, play, and debate, we’ll explore the complexities of civic life, decision-making, and how our beliefs are shaped. Expect to listen, move, challenge, and be challenged in a dynamic space that asks us not just to state our views, but to examine them. Step up. Democracy depends on it. Are you in?

Wednesday, October 8: The Propaganda Machine: How Generative A.I. Undermines Civility and Democracy
Presenter: Leah Coppola, English instructor, writing tutor, and scholar of the rhetoric of science and technology
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Twin Lights, Student Life Center
Description: In May 2025, the A.I.-powered X (formerly Twitter) account Grok began responding to every message tweeted at it by bringing up “white genocide” in South Africa. “White genocide” is a racist conspiracy theory pushed by far-right extremists, and someone at X had clearly manipulated Grok’s programming to spread this idea. This is just one shocking example of how bad-faith actors are using generative A.I., such as ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Microsoft’s Copilot, to poison the well of public discourse and undermine our collective ability for fact-based democratic decision-making. However, even normal uses of generative A.I. also work in subtler ways to shape our perceptions by presenting us with a view of reality favorable to those already in power. In this talk, audiences will be shown why we should be wary of the power of A.I. to manipulate democracy and erode our standards of civility.

Wednesday, October 8: History Trivia Night with Student Life
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Navesink Rooms, Student Life Center
Description: Join us for a fun and fast-paced History Trivia Night as part of Civility Week at Brookdale! Test your knowledge of U.S. history, civics and revolutionary moments that shaped our democracy. Compete in teams, win prizes, and learn something new about the courage it takes to build – and protect – a just society. All students welcome! Produced by Student Life and Activities and the Student Life Board, Civility Week collaborators.

Thursday, October 9: Accessibility: It’s Not Just for People with Disabilities
Presenter: Ernest Oversen, Director, Accessibility Services & Johnathan Shaloum, Director, Teaching & Learning Center
Time: 10:30am – 11:15am
Location: Twin Lights, Student Life Center
Description: Access is democratic! Join a conversation about accessibility in higher education. We will discuss the historical background of accessibility laws & requirements, how Brookdale Community College applies those requirements, and why accessible design is beneficial to all students. This talk will include an overview of how the Accessibility Services meets the needs of individual students and how the Teaching & Learning Center provides technology tools to promote accessibility for all.

Thursday, October 9: “Yes, you can!” How to *actually* run for office
Presenter: Dina Long, English
Time: 11:45am – 12:15pm
Location: Paramount Theater Room/MLK Lounge, Student Life Center
Description: Let’s take the mystery away from running for elected office. It’s not as complicated, or expensive, as you might think. This presentation will break down the process and cover strategies to not just launch a campaign for local office but also how to win it.

Thursday, October 9: Money and Politics – Protected Speech or “Buyer’s Market”?
Presenter: Bruce K. Brickman, ESQ.
Time: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Location: Twin Lights, Student Life Center
Description: This session explores the far-reaching impact of two Supreme Court decisions – Citizens Untied v. FEC (2010) and McCutcheon v. FEC (2014) – that reshaped the role of money in American politics. By granting corporations and unions the same free speech rights as individuals and removing aggregate limits on individuals political contributions, these rulings opened the floodgates for unlimited, often anonymous spending through Super PACs and dark money implications: Have we returned to a plutocratic past where the ultra-wealthy buy political influence? And how can everyday voters make their voices heard in a system flooded with “money-empowered speech”?

Friday, October 10: Living Room Conversation: Finding the Courage We Need for Democracy
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm
Location: Twin Lights, Student Life Center
Description: Civility Week traditionally ends with a Living Room Conversation. This closing experience invites us to reflect on the week’s events and ideas, share perspectives made or challenged, and identify ways forward, together, as a community. An open forum conversation and guided discussion. All are welcomed and wanted.

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