As is the tradition, Values Day at Stetson — Tuesday, Nov. 7 — is a single day dedicated to the university’s commitment to its core values of personal growth, intellectual development and global citizenship.

In the early 1990s, former Stetson President H. Douglas Lee created a town hall-style meeting that was meant to discuss diversity and inclusion at the university. In 2004, the name of the event was changed to Diversity Day, and in 2012 Diversity Day was re-envisioned to be focused on all of the university’s core values. Thus, it was renamed Values Day.

Since that time, Values Day has been part of a continuing dialog among students, faculty and staff, so that as a community the university can share, learn and appreciate together. To support the ability for the entire Stetson community to attend, the university cancels classes and closes offices — with all expected to participate in this day of reflection, community and action.

This year, the university’s Values Day committee has crafted two keynote programs, both centered around the theme of “Things We Don’t Talk About At Dinner.” The morning keynote program is “Great Minds Who Don’t Think Alike,” a faculty panel role-modeling how to discuss controversial topics in a healthy way. The afternoon keynote program is “Deliberative Dialogue on Spring Hill,” a facilitated dialogue about whether the Spring Hill area should be annexed into the City of DeLand. 

As part of “Great Minds Who Don’t Think Alike,” 10:30 a.m. to noon at Lee Chapel, professors Melinda Hall, PhD (Philosophy); Bill Nylen, PhD (Political Science); and John Rasp, PhD (Business Systems & Analytics) will discuss contentious issues the way we hope all Stetson students would: with humility, passion, honesty and even a bit of humor. Also, the session will include welcoming remarks by Stetson President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD, and musical performances by student organist Joseph Parr and the Stetson Gospel Singers. 

“Deliberative Dialogue on Spring Hill,” 1-3:30 p.m. at the Stetson Room in the CUB, will addresses a difficult topic in the DeLand community: whether the historically African-American “Greater Spring Hill” community (just southwest of Stetson’s campus) should be fully annexed into the City of DeLand. Local leaders will initiate the conversation, and attendees can deliberate in small groups, with polling by Stetson’s Center for Public Opinion Research. Snacks and refreshments will be provided, and no prior knowledge of Spring Hill or annexation is necessary to participate. Registration is requested for this event, although walk-ins will be welcomed until the program reaches capacity. 

Total of 29 Workshops

In its entirety, the Values Day schedule features 29 workshops during three workshop blocks in the morning and afternoon, with the workshops facilitated by campus members and community partners. Other highlights of the day include the annual Global Citizenship Fair, a screening of the Remembering Innsbruck documentary and a culminating Blues concert that evening. Students can earn up to six Cultural Credits throughout the day.

“We need to lean into the hard conversations,” said Kevin Winchell, director of Community Engagement and co-chair of the Values Day Planning Committee. “As our politics and media have become more fractured, what passes for political discourse now is often people arguing with each other — sometimes by simply yelling, or perhaps by regurgitating scripted talking points without honestly engaging others’ views. At best, this approach breeds frustration or apathy; at worst, it devolves into anger or hatred that can turn violent. We can do better, and institutions of higher education can lead the way.”