Filled with news articles representing opposing views on current issues, the bulletin board has been a mainstay in the department for 20 years as a way to prompt debate and discussion among students. Early on, there were instances of articles getting ripped down or defaced. To remedy the situation — and to take advantage of a prime teaching opportunity — the above statement was drafted by Brecke and his colleagues, and has been a cornerstone to the department’s approach to teaching political science. Living up to this statement isn’t easy. Nothing brings out the best and worst in others more than political discourse during a presidential election. From cable news and radio talk shows, to newspapers and conversations around kitchen tables, there’s no shortage of opinions. And with social media entering the fray, from Twitter to Facebook and new Internet blogs popping up daily, there’s no shortage of places to vent, either. For Brecke and Pasley, the challenge is to help students debate and deliberate the issues of the day from a thoughtful and reasonable perspective that reflects the values of a higher education at Park.
Differences welcomed At Park, students’ views are encouraged, but not at the expense of those of their classmates. “We look at ideas; we debate ideas. No personal attacks are allowed,” Brecke said. “We try to engender an openness in the classroom that allows students to think freely and arrive at their own conclusions.” Brecke and Pasley couldn’t be more different in their political leanings or their specialties. Brecke tends to come at issues from “the left” while Pasley tends to be on “the right” side of matters. Brecke emphasizes domestic politics and heads up Park’s Legal Studies program, while Pasley’s brings to Park an expertise in
Photo by Kenny Johnson
James Pasley, Ph.D., associate professor of political science (left), and Ron Brecke, Ph.D., professor of political science.
Spring 2012 - 3