Common Ground

Cross-boundary dialogue on hot-button political issues

Common Ground is a multi-format program to help prepare students for active citizenship. Designed to explore cross-boundary political thought and complex social issues, Common Ground brings highly respected thought leaders to the Hamilton campus to participate in small classroom dialogues and large event discussions. Topics intertwined with the College’s curriculum are chosen to foster critical thinking and holistic examination of difficult and often contentious national and global policy issues.

Next Event

March 27, 2023, 7 p.m.

“What Does Freedom Mean in Online Speech?” features two experts who will examine the issue of online speech from different perspectives. David Brody is the Managing Attorney of the Digital Justice Initiative. Its mission is to secure equal justice for all through the rule of law. Shoshana Weissmann is the Digital Director at R Street, the leading think tank engaged in policy research in support of free markets and limited, effective government. Professor of Government Rob Martin will moderate.

Event Information

David Wippman Hamilton College President

Previous Events

Jessica Rich, former director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and former head of the FTC’s division of privacy and identity theft, speaks during the Common Ground panel.

Common Ground Panel Discusses Privacy and Data Concerns

The Common Ground series returned to Hamilton on February 22 with a panel focusing on privacy. Panelists were Brad Weltman, director of privacy and public policy at Meta, and Jessica Rich, former director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and former head of the FTC’s division of privacy and identity theft. Their discussion was moderated by Stuart Ingis ’93, chair at the law firm Venable and co-chair to its eCommerce, privacy, and cybersecurity segment.

University of Rhode Island scholar Nicolai Petro, Professor of Government Alan Cafruny, and former foreign minister of Russia Andrei Kozyrev discuss the war in Ukraine.

Russia-Ukraine War: “Cultivating Compassion Toward Adversaries”

Former foreign minister of Russia Andrei Kozyrev and University of Rhode Island scholar Nicolai Petro discussed the war in Ukraine with Professor of Government Alan Cafruny on Nov. 15.

Seidule,. Max Boot, Isserman Common Ground 10/22

Author Max Boot Discusses Ukraine War in Common Ground Lecture

Author, foreign policy expert, and Washington Post columnist Max Boot joined Professors Ty Seidule and Maurice Isserman to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine on Oct. 25.

Common Ground 11/15/21 income inequality

Common Ground: Income Inequality Causes, Consequences, Response

Christina Romer, a professor of economics at University of California, Berkeley, and former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under the Obama administration, engaged in a dialogue with Greg Mankiw, a Harvard University professor of economics and former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush.