Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
How do you teach a room full of students to engage with ideas they find threatening, offensive, or simply wrong
In this panel, four educators share the strategies they've developed for teaching controversial topics with rigor and civility. Paul Brest, Professor Emeritus at Stanford Law School and co-chair of Stanford's Heterodox Academy chapter, draws on his "Democracy and Disagreement" course — where guest speakers model respectful debate on some of today's most divisive issues. Erika Weissinger, director of the Constructive Dialogue Initiative at UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy, brings her expertise in dialogue and democratic practice. Miriam Thompson and Richard Ashcroft, both affiliated with UC Berkeley, round out the panel with perspectives on encouraging genuine intellectual engagement in the modern classroom. Together they address the real challenges educators face: how to handle current events, get students to participate meaningfully, and foster the kind of disagreement that actually produces learning.
Centered on the theme “The Value of Viewpoint Diversity: Why It Matters and How to Practice It Well”, this conference offers actionable insights, fosters rich intellectual exchange, and brings together individuals from across the region who are invested in the future of higher education.
The event is co-organized by the HxA Campus Communities in California, Oregon, and Washington.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
1:09 Introducing the Panelists
3:43 Paul Brest's Perspective
7:25 Miriam Thompson's Perspective
9:59 Erika Weissinger's Perspective
11:52 Richard Ashcroft's Perspective
15:14 Discussion on Teaching Strategies
21:05 Strategies for Encouraging Meaningful Engagement
31:53 Challenges in Discussing Current Events
33:09 Audience Q&A
How do you teach a room full of students to engage with ideas they find threatening, offensive, or simply wrong
In this panel, four educators share the strategies they've developed for teaching controversial topics with rigor and civility. Paul Brest, Professor Emeritus at Stanford Law School and co-chair of Stanford's Heterodox Academy chapter, draws on his "Democracy and Disagreement" course — where guest speakers model respectful debate on some of today's most divisive issues. Erika Weissinger, director of the Constructive Dialogue Initiative at UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy, brings her expertise in dialogue and democratic practice. Miriam Thompson and Richard Ashcroft, both affiliated with UC Berkeley, round out the panel with perspectives on encouraging genuine intellectual engagement in the modern classroom. Together they address the real challenges educators face: how to handle current events, get students to participate meaningfully, and foster the kind of disagreement that actually produces learning.
Centered on the theme “The Value of Viewpoint Diversity: Why It Matters and How to Practice It Well”, this conference offers actionable insights, fosters rich intellectual exchange, and brings together individuals from across the region who are invested in the future of higher education.
The event is co-organized by the HxA Campus Communities in California, Oregon, and Washington.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
1:09 Introducing the Panelists
3:43 Paul Brest's Perspective
7:25 Miriam Thompson's Perspective
9:59 Erika Weissinger's Perspective
11:52 Richard Ashcroft's Perspective
15:14 Discussion on Teaching Strategies
21:05 Strategies for Encouraging Meaningful Engagement
31:53 Challenges in Discussing Current Events
33:09 Audience Q&A
