Written by: Christina Cannon
I am joining the Southern Accent staff as the opinion editor after spending a semester studying across the pond in England. After spending several months walking on the left side of the sidewalk, going to candle-lit church services with my Anglican friends and watching United States politics gurgle and swirl from a very different vantage point, being back at Southern is different.
Most of us come from a theological background similar to that of others on campus. Because of this, we have a very unique position among U.S. colleges, even among most other Christian ones. Our common background gives us a fascinating framework to build off of.
Because of our commonalities, however, we may sometimes be tempted to think we should and do believe more similarly than we do on any given issue. Regardless of beliefs, the fact (and a good fact) is we may have different opinions.
During the 2020 election, the campus climate was considered peaceful compared to many other places. And, of course, peace is more comfortable than contention. And peace is good, as long as it is not the result of apathy or a veneer over something less amiable.
I’ve heard professors talk about noting a shift in the discussion culture of Southern, a marked change in the open debate style through which certain friend groups thrived and by which convocations were driven; disagreement became a more personal offense, a moral issue.
My hope is not to stir up dissension, but to encourage a spirit of healthy discussion when honest disagreement arises. And when people are honest, disagreement inevitably, necessarily, entertainingly does arise.