Learning to disagree
without being disagreeable
Students4Civility is about how people with different views can talk about triggering topics productively instead of just arguing with each other. It's about how we can have sensitive talks with our friends and family without causing huge fights that damage relationships. Most of all it is about really listening to people we disagree with, not just so we can point out why we think they are wrong, but to understand what the other person believes and why they believe it. Even if we can't completely change someone's mind, we can always at least find some common ground.
Reactive
Civil
Learning how to respectfully discuss our strongly held opinions while genuinely listening to and learning from opposing viewpoints.
Started by a student, for students
William Atherton
Students4Civility started out as a student club originally founded by high school policy debater William Atherton. The original idea was to learn about how to debate issues without both sides winding up angry or feeling more divided than when they started.
Students4Civility found great resources from non-profits, universities, the U.S. Courts and other organizations to help learn about and practice these skills in the real world, outside of school-sponsored debates. In partnership with Sophia Berman, a graduate from the same high school before attending college at NYU, they created this website.
One of Students4Civility's goals is to put all these materials in one place to make it easier for other students who want to get involved, practice civility skills, or create their own civility clubs. We have done that with this website and are excited that students from several schools, including colleges, universities, and law schools, have accessed these materials. We hope you do too!
Jordyn Weiss
Jordyn Weiss is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Students4Civility. With a background in debate and a strong interest in law, Jordyn is passionate about how people can advocate for their beliefs while still listening to and respecting opposing perspectives. She currently participates in mock trial and runs her school's student newspaper, experiences that have strengthened her interest in argumentation, communication, and the importance of understanding different points of view.
Through Students4Civility, Jordyn hopes to help other students develop the skills to approach disagreements thoughtfully and have productive conversations about difficult issues. She believes that learning how to disagree respectfully is an important part of becoming an effective advocate, journalist, lawyer, and member of a community.
Explore our initiatives
What civility means, why it matters, and how understanding anger can help you engage more constructively.
Explore civility →Get InvolvedEngage with civil discourse in your community, and bring civility programs to your school.
Get involved →Civility TranslatorType in a nasty comment, complaint, or hot take and see how it can be framed as a conversation starter.
Try the translator →