Freedom Square: Online and On Campus-

How our eCitizenship Project Merges the Physical and Virtual

Presenters:

• James Roberts, Professor, Department of Political Science & Chair of Towson University’s Political Engagement Subcommittee

• Darcy Accardi, Special Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs

• Elliot Glotfelty, Director of Civic Engagement – Student Government Association, Towson University        

 

“Freedom Square” is a synthesis of two political engagement projects

• Towson University is participating in ADP’s eCitizenship initiative that encourages students to engage in political activities using new Internet based technologies• A public space dedicated to political discourse modeled on the Democracy Plaza developed at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

Thus, we are trying to create a public space for political discourse that spans both the “brick and mortar” of the physical campus

and the “bits and bytes” of cyberspace.

Public Spaces: Physical

After attending a presentation at the ADP meeting three years ago, we were excited by the Democracy Plaza at IUPUI

“The Democracy Plaza at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis was created with the purpose of providing students, faculty, and staff with an opportunity to express, speak, and hear diverging thoughts surrounding social, political, economic, and religious issues relevant to the campus, city, state, country, and world.”http://life.iupui.edu/osi/campus-programming/democracy-plaza.html

We had the ideal space in the Lecture Hall Plaza – a plaza in the center of campus that was a major pedestrian thoroughfare.

Serendipity …

The Political Engagement Subcommittee proposed converting the Lecture Hall Plaza into a public space for political discourse just as the University was planning a major renovation of the space

We were able to work with the architects to design a space that will meet our needs.

Naming the Space

From the beginning, the committee wanted the planning and programming of the space to be a student centered activity.

To name the space, we did a two-part online student poll where students first proposed names for the space and then voted to choose the most popular name.

The name that was chosen was “Freedom Square.”

Programming and Maintaining Freedom Square

Freedom Square was dedicated on September 17, 2011, Constitution Day.

Programming is handled by the Student Government Association in cooperation with the Political Engagement Subcommittee

www.TUFreedomSquare.com

CHALLENGES

• Building the actual site• Determining the scope of the project• Involving a variety of content

providers/bloggers

FUTURE GOALS for 2011-2012

• Involve more student organizations, student leaders, faculty and staff in providing content

• Increase # of comments for each question of the week and the other sections

SGA Involvement

The mission of Freedom Square is to provide a forum for the campus community to express and deliberate issues of

civic concern.The space shall be a haven for freedom of expression and

speech, in addition to encouraging an atmosphere of critical thinking and debate.

• Development of Mission Statement• Questions of the Week

• Program Approval

Towson Student Civic Engagement Committee

23 PROGRAMS!

Mock ICE Raid

Freedom Festival 2010

(Democracy Matters)

One Night Without a

HomeBullying

Awareness (CSD & SGA)

Questions of the Week• Questions developed by committee

• Posted on Daily Digest to raise awareness• Focus on current events

• SGA Senators post on chalkboards• Check bi-weekly to re-write

• Questions also submitted by student groups or university departments

• Often coincided with campus programming or events

What is and isn’t acceptable to post/say about others anonymously and/or via the internet?

Should English be established as the United States’ official language?

Is HIV/AIDS still relevant?

Problems

• Erasing the Question of the WeekSolution: LED Light Screen above boards

• Advertising/ DrawingsSolution: More regular checks by SGA

• Hate Speech• University policies followed

• Used as a learning experience for campus community

Photo by: Dan Gross

What do students think?

Do you think having chalkboards at Freedom Square is a good idea?

Natalie Stuppard – “No, because people are just gonna draw penises and racist stuff all over it.”

Becky Buesgens - “It’s a great way for students to freely express themselves and tell people what they want to say. Sure, some will take advantage of it and write dumb things, but hey, they get to express themselves too and

that’s the beauty of it!” 

Morgan Johnson - “It’s a good idea, but it could go bad. I like the fact that I can go express myself and read other people’s thoughts.”Josh- “In an age where our 1st amendment is continually ignored, its great to see iniatives like this @ TU! I look forward to the freedom of expression and speech that this will invoke. Good job to those involved!”

SUCCESS!