Theresa Could, a former prime minister of the UK, spoke to the Lehigh group in a nearly-full Baker Corridor Oct. 24 for Lehigh’s inaugural Compelling Views dialog.
Rt. Hon. Theresa Could was the second feminine prime minister of the UK, serving from 2016 to 2019. Earlier than that, she served as dwelling secretary, changing into the longest-serving conservative dwelling secretary prior to now century.
The Rt. Hon. Theresa Could MP, was the Prime Minister of the UK from 2016 to 2019. Could just lately launched her new guide, “The Abuse of Energy: Confronting Injustice in Public Life.” (Courtesy of Lehigh College)
Lehigh President Joseph Helble mentioned the purpose of the Compelling Views collection is to convey audio system with a variety of views on present crucial points to offer the campus group an opportunity to be taught from them in a considerate and nuanced means.
He mentioned this yr’s focus of the collection is nationwide safety in a world context.
Could mentioned geopolitical and nationwide safety points, starting from conflicts within the Center East and jap Europe to the threats of generative AI on democratic processes to coping with delicate intelligence and infrastructure.
She mentioned a serious problem in the meanwhile is absolutism, the place people are solely able to fully agreeing or disagreeing with out trying to discover a compromise. She mentioned social media has exacerbated these echo chambers by which folks encompass themselves solely with those that share comparable viewpoints.
“She’s simply written a guide the place she speaks about a few of the challenges, the nuance and complexity, in every of those points that may’t be decreased to soundbite options of the type that you just may hear within the information or learn on social media,” Helble mentioned. “That is precisely the sort of perspective we had been hoping for, and I’m hoping for, in bringing somebody of her background and expertise to campus.”
Within the Q&A collection following the dialog between Could and Helble, three of the six viewers questions had been associated to the battle in Israel and Gaza.
Farah Latefa, a scholar at Penn State Lehigh Valley, ‘27, was one scholar who questioned Could about politicians’ unwillingness to take robust stances on worldwide battle.
“I’m a bit disenchanted, however not shocked that my reply relating to Israel’s assaults towards the Palestinians was not answered,” Latefa mentioned. “That’s not going to cease me from asking these politicians extra questions, as a result of we do want solutions.”
Brett Ludwig, the vice chairman for communications and public affairs, is a part of the group that created the collection at the side of the President’s Workplace, Normal Counsel, Growth and Alumni Relations, Communications and Authorities Relations.
He mentioned they started speaking a yr in the past about tips on how to “harness the idea of freedom of expression” and specific it in new, participating methods at Lehigh. Now, he mentioned there’s a committee that works to search out the matters and audio system for the collection — they search for opposing specialists to offer “sturdy, thought-provoking experiences” for the campus and surrounding group.
“We checked out specialists within the area — each worldwide specialists and within the U.S. — and in addition we checked out choose world specialists,” Ludwig mentioned.
The group selected Could, Ludwig mentioned, as a result of she is the previous chief of one of many largest world economies with a “very distinct perspective” on the subject of nationwide safety.
The method was simple, Ludwig mentioned, as they submitted a request by way of Could’s channels, and he or she and her workers accepted.
Ludwig mentioned bringing Could provided a differentiated expertise, as she shouldn’t be identified to have interaction in lots of talking occasions within the U.S.. He mentioned they acquired constructive suggestions concerning the collection itself — which was an indication to him that this system is critical — however selecting Could as a speaker got here with combined reactions.
“If all we heard was positives concerning the speaker we selected, then we most likely selected the improper speaker,” Ludwig mentioned. “Our hope is that the following speaker we announce will elicit a variety of feelings and reactions as effectively. We sort of rely on it.”
Sarah Quinn, ‘24, is a political science main who attended the occasion and a small scholar roundtable prior.
She mentioned Could is a “very reasonable” politician, making it exhausting for her to have a compelling stance.
“Due to how she’s branded herself as a politician and due to how well-known she is, she’s not able to take a radical stance or one thing that’s not within the mainstream discourse,” Quinn mentioned.
The subsequent speaker for the dialog on nationwide safety has not but been introduced however will come to campus through the spring semester, Ludwig mentioned.
Whereas there are a lot of totally different audio system and endowed lecturers inside disciplines on campus all through the tutorial yr, Ludwig mentioned this collection takes conversations that sometimes have disagreements a step deeper. He mentioned this may promote crucial pondering, empathy and openness that can “bridge divides and construct belief” in the neighborhood.
Helble mentioned he believes the easiest way to be taught is to listen to from individuals who have totally different viewpoints and opinions.
“I believe that’s precisely what faculty and college campuses ought to be doing: offering the sort of setting the place every of us learns from individuals who see the world in numerous methods,” Helble mentioned.
