Common Ground Lecture Series

The Dean’s Office of the College will be sponsoring an upcoming event in the Common Ground Lecture Series, which models civil debate by asking at least two people from different political or intellectual persuasions to discuss a topic of national, political interest.  An outspoken conservative columnist and New York Times journalist, Ross Douthat will be giving a talk, “Crisis or Stasis? The American Empire Under Donald Trump,” on Tuesday, February 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kelley Theatre. According to his biography, Douthat “has frequently darted between an independent meld of free-thinking, non-partisanship and strict, doctrinal orthodoxies.” 

Rick Perlstein, an award-winning author and contributing writer for The Nation, will serve as respondent and engage in debate with Mr. Douthat. The Nation has called him the “hyper-caffeinated Herodotus of the American century.” Dr. Gwendoline Alphonso, Associate Professor of Politics, and Dean Richard Greenwald will moderate the event. Students, faculty, staff, and the community are invited to come for an evening of provocative and lively debate. The event is part of the Quick Center OPEN Visions Forum.

Student tickets are free and can be picked up directly at the Dean’s Office. To reserve tickets for classes, please contact Kyle Russell (KRussell@fairfield.edu) at the Quick Center to have tickets held in advance.