Phi Theta Kappa: Committing to Civic Engagement
Below, read the exciting address announcing Phi Theta Kappa's commitment to Civic Engagement, given by Rod A. Risley, Executive Director of Phi Theta Kappa, at the Phi Theta Kappa 86th International Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 2, 2004.
These are interesting times in the history of democracy. At this point in our history, we are somehow a little less than we were. Less of us vote. Less of us know of or are concerned about the many complex geo-political disputes in the world or even the most local of issues in our own communities. Less of us participate in institutions that have been essential to our democracy, like town hall meetings and community round tables. We as a nation are more uninformed, self-focused, and disengaged than ever before.
Since the mid 1980s, this consequential problem has been frequently discussed in America's two-year and senior institutions. The collective response within higher education has been civic engagement. Civic engagement encompasses activities that reinvigorate the public purposes and civic mission of higher education. Civic engagement within higher education includes objectives such as developing civic skills, inspiring engaged citizenship, promoting a civil society, and building the commonwealth. While the higher education response was new in the 1980s, in truth the recognition of this problem was not.
In a speech entitled "Civic Engagement and American Democracy," Richard Erdman, president of a public education development firm looked to Alexis de Tocqueville, who quite possibly is the most quoted political philosopher on American democracy. Mr. Erdman stated that:
Tocqueville wrote of the United States during the 1830's and his observations say much about democracy in general…His greatest fear for the United States was of apathy on the part of its citizens. He saw individualism and material wealth as potent contributors to the United States, but also as potential distracters. He felt that the greatest threat existed because democracy might work so well that citizens would become apathetic. At this point the omnipotence of the majority would cause the democratic freedoms to slip away almost unnoticed. He was an early advocate of civic engagement for the good of society as a whole, for the democratic political process and for the individual as a learner.
Even as Tocqueville wrote, this nation was not truly and completely civically engaged. At that point, both slaves and women were disenfranchised from voting. There were higher levels of illiteracy. And we had not achieved the mass expansion of the media that we have reached in recent years. Today, not only have the barriers been removed from voting, but also voting has been extended by the 21st Amendment to young people at the age of 18. While things have changed, Tocqueville greatest fear is still being realized. How do we, Phi Theta Kappa, respond to this?
The truth is, just like the recognition of this problem can be dated back to the infant years of our democracy, Phi Theta Kappa has in some shape or form promoted the idea of civic engagement since the founding of the Society in 1918. For instance, eight honor study topics have looked into aspects of civic engagement including: "The Changing Nature of American Society: A Challenge to Government," "The State of Our Nation: Toward Responsible Contributory Citizenship; and we have even explored civic engagement through an international lens in 1989 at the Honors Institute in Ottawa, Canada. The topic was "The Americas: Distant Neighbors Building Bridges." Our chapters have held voter registration drives and participated in get out the vote efforts. Plus, we are about to start holding town-hall meetings and community round tables through our partnership with the Kettering Foundation of Dayton, Ohio, looking at the value of an education beyond high school.
Tonight, Phi Theta Kappa, we galvanize our effective programs, our collective and diverse human resources at more than 1,200 community colleges, and our mission of excellence to further civic engagement in America. Phi Theta Kappa, from this moment forth, we will not only be known as the best that community colleges have to offer, but we will be further characterized by our drive as civic-minded scholars.
Imagine a society where the citizens are inspired to voice their opinions. Imagine a society with high levels of volunteerism and community involvement. Imagine a society where knowledge and compassion soar above all else. You are imagining a society, in which civic engagement is the core of the classroom, is the foundation of the community and is a flame that ignites us all.
This image is powerful. And the mission of Phi Theta Kappa demands that we, as civic-minded scholars, contribute to making this image, this vision for this nation-a reality. In the words of former US Congresswoman Barbara Jordan "there is nothing easy about this mission, but it is not mission impossible." In a sense, it is our responsibility, and our obligation. If not us, who? And if not now, when? Tonight we say, it will be us, and the time is now-we accept this mission.
Throughout this 86th International Convention, we will celebrate our successes, reaffirm our mission, and launch Phi Theta Kappa programs that further civic engagement in this nation and abroad. Our newest program that promotes civic engagement through newspaper readership is the Community College Readership Program.
A study by the Newspaper Association of America found that newspaper readership has been on gradual decline since 1970-to the extent that only 54% of people read the newspaper. While technology has presented alternative means for obtaining this news, this gradual decline is significant because the habit of newspaper readership has traditionally been connected to the democratic experience. Tocqueville stated some 160 years ago that, "You can't have real newspapers without democracy, and you can't have democracy without newspapers."
The Community College Readership Program responds to this decline by providing newspapers to community college campuses for use in augmenting classroom topics, creating discussions on campus, and encourages the college population not to lose sight of world events.
This program is groundbreaking in that it is the first organized effort in higher education to promote newspaper readership at community colleges. For years, hundreds of four-year institutions have used readership programs to create an atmosphere of civic engagement, now these same opportunities are being presented to community colleges. Please join me in welcoming two representatives from USA TODAY, who recognize the value of promoting civic-engagement at the nation's two-year colleges, Mr. Matt Derrick and USA TODAY's Director of Education Programs, Diane Barrett.
Already Phi Theta Kappa chapters are blazing a new trail, by devising a plan and securing the support of their college administration to promote civic engagement through the Community College Readership Program. These chapters' work is noteworthy. Their compassion is changing outlooks, their concern is contributing to informed opinions, and their caring is turning the tide on apathy in their communities. Tonight we recognize the 17 pioneering chapters that have launched the Community College Readership Program on their campus. They are increasing civic engagement, positively influencing their peers, and leaving a legacy on their campus.
- The first chapter is from Alabama: Jefferson State Community College, Pi Pi Chapter
- Next, from Florida, St. Petersburg College, Eta Nu Chapter
- From Illinois, College of DuPage, Phi Beta Chapter
- From Indiana, Ivy Tech State College - Muncie, Alpha Upsilon Lambda Chapter
- From Kentucky, Somerset Community College, Omicron Zeta Chapter
- From New Jersey, Bergen Community College, Alpha Tau Beta Chapter
- From North Carolina, Sandhills Community College, Alpha Epsilon Phi Chapter
- From Ohio, North Central State Community College, Beta Theta Eta Chapter
- From Ohio, Sinclair Community College, Nu Pi Chapter
- From Pennsylvania, Montgomery County Community College, Alpha Kappa Zeta Chapter
- From Tennessee, Cleveland State Community College, Omega Omicron Chapter
- From Virginia, Eastern Shores Community College, Alpha Pi Chi Chapter
- From Washington, North Seattle Community College, Alpha Epsilon Omega Chapter
- From West Virginia, West Virginia State Community and Technical College, Alpha Tau Lambda Chapter
- From West Virginia, West Virginia State College at Parkersburg, Sigma Omega Chapter
- From Texas, North Harris College, Alpha Alpha Rho
- And finally, from Indiana, Vincennes University, Beta Zeta Rho Chapter
We salute all 17 of these chapters for committing to civic engagement, for opening their campuses to the world. And I am positive as the months go by many more will use the Community College Readership Program as a tool to promote civic engagement. With so many doing so much, we will effectively stay true to the great potential that Alexis de Tocqueville implied that America could achieve when he stated, "Two things in America are astonishing: the changeableness of most human behavior and the strange stability of certain principles. [Americans] are constantly on the move, but the spirit of humanity seems almost unmoved."
And so shall we, Phi Theta Kappa, be unmoved, steadfast, and committed to the spirit of humanity that arises from civic engagement.
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