All posts by John Lande

Do You Want to Engage Students More in Class? Consider Prohibiting Laptops.

Pace Law Professor Darren Rosenblum published an op-ed in the New York Times describing his experiences with and without laptops in his classroom. He wrote, “When I started teaching, I assumed my ‘fun’ class, sexuality and the law, full of contemporary controversy, would prove gripping to the students.  One day, I provoked them with a … Continue reading Do You Want to Engage Students More in Class? Consider Prohibiting Laptops.

Is Political Moderation a Virtue These Days?

“[E]xtremism in the defense of liberty is no vice!  And . . . moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!”  So said Senator Barry Goldwater a half a century ago when he accepted the Republican nomination for president in 1964.  He lost that election in a landslide, so extremism apparently wasn’t such a … Continue reading Is Political Moderation a Virtue These Days?

A Cool Course Assignment for Next Semester — and A Scholarship Opportunity

Tis one of the least fun seasons of the year for faculty:  Time to grade stacks of exams and papers.  While it is exciting to see signs that some of our wards have learned a lot from our instructional efforts, it is depressing to see evidence raising doubts that we inhabit the same galaxy as … Continue reading A Cool Course Assignment for Next Semester — and A Scholarship Opportunity

Building Common Ground Between Bubbles – Part 4

Troubled by the corrosive conflict stirred up by the election, I have written a series of posts about how we might move forward constructively, particularly on the personal (as distinct from the political) level.  I think that political progress may depend, in part, on breaking down barriers of misunderstanding and fear between groups in our … Continue reading Building Common Ground Between Bubbles – Part 4

St. John’s Mangano Award Competition

From FFOI Elayne Greenberg: Dear Friends and Colleagues, About the Mangano Award Given annually through the generosity of esteemed dispute resolution champion Hon. Guy J. Mangano, this $5000 Award honors scholars and practitioners whose published empirical research has furthered the advancement and understanding of the values and skills of dispute resolution. Nomination Criteria You are … Continue reading St. John’s Mangano Award Competition

Tips for Better Thanksgiving Conversations

Another message from the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation: The holiday season, beginning with Thanksgiving this week, is a time of sharing and gathering, of getting together with family and friends. Usually a wonderful time of the year, it can also be a season of discord, especially as political topics may be common in the weeks … Continue reading Tips for Better Thanksgiving Conversations

Building Common Ground Between Bubbles – Part 3

I want to add several things to my post about finding common ground between “bubbles.” In 2008, then-Senator Obama gave his “More Perfect Union” speech in the wake of the Jeremiah Wright controversy.  Reverend Wright had been Senator Obama’s pastor and made some inflammatory statements that caused a major controversy for Obama’s presidential campaign.  In … Continue reading Building Common Ground Between Bubbles – Part 3

How Can We Build Common Ground? – Part 2

This morning, I posted How Can We Build Common Ground Between Bubbles?  (Thanks for your kind words, Jen.) This afternoon, I got the following email from the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation, which addresses my post:   The Presidential election and the week following has brought the deep divides in this nation to a head, … Continue reading How Can We Build Common Ground? – Part 2