One nation under God

By: Lloyd Sandelands

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Sometimes it can be hard to find the words to describe how exactly we feel. The words may be deep inside, under layers of emotion and locked up in our bodies. Or the words are swirling around inside and need time to be processed. Or we may fear using the wrong words, saying something that […]

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Pursuing virtue in state-university relations

By: David J. Weerts

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…What happened in Wisconsin that led to today’s division? It is a complicated story, but I believe that one untold piece of the puzzle may be the erosion of a shared moral framework that once united Wisconsin citizens, scholars, and researchers in their efforts to build a good society. While Bascom’s “social gospel” certainly had political […]

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What do we do when darkness wins?

By: Sandra Waddock

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Hatred, misogyny, bullying, corruption, cheating, conning, violence, racism, abusiveness, vulgarity, lying, homophobia, ignorance, cynicism, intolerance, sexual predation, demagoguery, authoritarianism, xenophobia, cruelty, ‘me first,’ anger, and the spewing of hatred are among many other negative values that seemingly have been supported in the 2016 US election. How do we begin to understand how and why so […]

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Empathic failure and a call to unity

By: Karren Knowlton

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The large majority of Democrats were shocked and confused when their candidate in the US Presidential election lost. Why didn’t they see this coming? Why were they optimistic, many considering this outcome unthinkable and unlikely? Is it because they are all spoiled millennials who are used to getting their way? No. Is it because people […]

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Stress and staying positive in trying times

By: Amy Heydlauff

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The elections of 2016 distressed many people in ways we never imagined a political decision could distress us. But then “real life” comes roaring back, adding the routine stress of life – finances, worries about our children, trouble with the neighbors, job pressure, health concerns, traffic jams – you know the stuff. Trying times bring […]

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Connectedness: People, pets, and virtue

By: Ryan Gunderson

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What do Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos share in common? How about Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.? Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan? Queen Elizabeth II and Angela Merkel? Mikhail Gorbachev and Deng Xiaoping? Most of these pairings have pretty obvious similarities. But what connects all 10 individuals? You’d be correct if you said […]

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Being a leader, when you don’t have a title

By: Mary Ceccanese

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In many hierarchical organizations, there is a chart showing who has what rank, role, and position. At times, people believe that only those with titles can lead – everyone else is just a follower. However, especially during trying times, we all have the chance, the ability, the choice, and the opportunity to be effective leaders. […]

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Trying times call for our best selves

By: Gretchen M. Spreitzer

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Sometimes it can be hard to find the words to describe how exactly we feel. The words may be deep inside, under layers of emotion and locked up in our bodies. Or the words are swirling around inside and need time to be processed. Or we may fear using the wrong words, saying something that […]

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