Southern Virginia University’s Braver Angels Alliance, along with local college partners at Virginia Military Institute, Washington and Lee University and Mountain Gateway Community College, invites the Rockbridge community and area high school students to attend a Public Square Debate on the resolution “Social media is a threat to democracy” on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. in SVU’s Main Hall ballroom.
This event, part of local VA250 planning, emphasizes our nation’s principles of free speech and open public debate, fostering an engaged citizenry.
Public Square debates, a Braver Angels program, bring together four groups in one event: high school students, twoyear college students, four-year college students, and local community members. Each two-hour debate focuses on enduring themes about creating a more perfect union where everyone can exercise their inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, said a spokesman. Students from participating colleges and schools will be invited to a culminating statewide debate at the State Capitol in October 2026.
Since 2023, SVU has hosted intercollegiate debates using the Braver Angels format. A Braver Angels debate is a noncompetitive, nonperformative community conversation led by a trained chairperson, following a light parliamentary style. The rules of the debate ensure conversations stay constructive and permit many viewpoints to be heard and examined.
To attend, register in advance with this link: https://tinyurl.com/feb18debate. For more information, contact Professor John Armstrong, co-chair of SVU’s Braver Angels Alliance, via email at john.armstrong@ svu.edu.
