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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.

Latest News

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. This event was an installment of the College’s Common Ground series, which aims to explore diverse political opinions, address complex social issues, and foster active, informed citizenship within the student body and Hamilton community.

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.

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.

Previous Events

Condoleezza Rice and Susan Rice

Great Names/Common Ground Rice and Rice
Former national security advisors Condoleezza Rice and Susan Rice discussed current issues at an event moderated by NBC’s Andrea Mitchell. Read More
Condoleezza Rice and Susan Rice
Professor of Government Alan Cafruny moderated the class discussion with Condoleezza Rice and Susan Rice. Read More
Great Names/Common Ground Rice and Rice
NBC’s Andrea Mitchell moderates a discussion with former national security advisors Condoleezza Rice and Susan Rice.
Susan Rice with a student
Susan Rice chats with a student following a class discussion.
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State and national security advisor.

Jim Messina and Reince Priebus

common ground priebus messina
Jim Messina, former Deputy Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama, and Reince Priebus, former Chief of Staff to President Donald Trump, engaged in a Common Ground dialogue in April 2019. Read More
messina, priebus common ground
Jim Messina, left, and Reince Priebus shake hands following their Common Ground discussion.
common ground priebus messina
Reince Priebus, former Trump White House Chief of Staff and journalist Jackie Judd P'14 chat with President David Wippman.
Priebus Messina common ground
Students ask questions of Reince Priebus and Jim Messina during a class in the Red Pit. Read More
jim Messina, Reince Priebus 4/19
Jim Messina, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff for President Barack Obama answers a question during a class. Read More

Mike Dubke ’92 and Marc Elias ’90

common ground 10/18
From left, Marc Elias ’90, moderator Jacke Judd P'14, and Mike Dubke ’92 P ’19 talk about the 2018 midterm elections. Read More
Mike Dubke ’92 and Mark Elias ’90
Mike Dubke ’92, right, and Mark Elias ’90
Common ground 10/18
Mike Dubke '92 makes a point during the discussion.
Common ground 10/18
President Wippman, Marc Elias '90, moderator Jackie Judd P'14 and Mike Dubke '92.

David Axelrod and Karl Rove

Common Ground
David Axelrod, Karl Rove and moderator Susan Page on stage. Read More
axelrod, rove, page Common Ground
David Axelrod, Karl Rove and Susan Page launch the first Common Ground discussion in the Field House.
Axelrod Rove class
Professor of Government Rob Martin, Center, moderated the class discussion with Karl Rove, left, and David Axelrod. Read More
Common Ground
David Axelrod speaks with students at a reception following the discussion.
Common Ground
Karl Rove, right, meets with students after the discussion.
Rove Axelrod class
David Axelrod and Karl Rove spoke with students from three classes before the Common Ground event.
Axelrod Rove class
David Axelrod, Karl Rove and students in the Red Pit.

“The goal is for the speakers to model the kind of respectful dialogue across political boundaries that should occur not just on college campuses, but in the broader society as well. With capable speakers on both sides of a given issue, each willing to acknowledge strengths in the position of the other speaker, we aim to encourage students and other audience members to question their own assumptions and consider carefully the evidence and arguments supporting other viewpoints.

David Wippman Hamilton College President David Wippman

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