Throughout the evening, Hoover, a renowned journalist, author and host of PBS Firing Line with Margaret HooverThe discussion extended to a range of issues, including global democratic trends, technological changes such as artificial intelligence, and the role of universities in shaping the next generation of civic leaders.
Rice, who served as provost at Stanford University from 1993 to 1996, spoke at length about the unique role of higher education in promoting democratic life. He said that universities are not just a place to generate knowledge. Rather, they are places where students encounter new ideas and perspectives
Describing universities as engines of innovation, Rice said they are also places where students encounter differing viewpoints and learn to thoughtfully engage with ideas that challenge their assumptions. He argued that this exchange remains central to a healthy democracy. He told the students in the audience that if democratic systems are to be maintained and improved, they will have to participate in maintaining them.
“Find one thing you can do to strengthen our democracy and go out and do it,” he said. “This is yours to keep.”
Rice’s message about one’s civic responsibility personally impacted many students in the audience, including senior Buckley Nettles, who graduated in communications in May.
“Having the opportunity to listen to Secretary Rice and Margaret Hoover was an unforgettable experience,” Nettles said. “I left feeling that college students like me have a responsibility to participate in democracy and help advance it.”
As the evening came to a close, Hoover concluded with a sharp round of questions. When asked whether playing golf or the piano requires more discipline, Rice indicated that the piano demands more commitment, especially considering his own golf game. When Hoover asked if he gets recognized more often on Stanford’s campus or at Denver Broncos games, Rice, who is part of the NFL franchise’s ownership group through 2022, observed that although students may recognize his name, “mostly they just want to come to my class.”
This exchange concluded the conversation after an evening focused on democratic institutions and the responsibilities of citizenship. Rice gave the audience a final message to find their own ways to strengthen democracy, and reminded them that its future depends on the willingness of each generation to maintain it.
Former SGA President Owen Beaverstock, who will also graduate next month with a degree in political science, offered final thoughts on the importance of civic dialogue and participation.
“Events like tonight remind us how much dialogue matters, how much ideas matter, and how the future of our country is shaped by our willingness to participate in it.”
For more information about Auburn’s sesquicentennial programs and speakers, visit America 250 at Auburn University.
Photo by Nathalie Norman Photography
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