Many people will recognize these lyrics from Billy Joel: “We didn’t start the fire/It was always burning since the world’s been turning/We didn’t start the fire/No, we didn’t light it but we tried to fight it.”
When I hear this song, I think about today’s world as figuratively on fire with division and polarization. As a community college professor, this polarization hits close to home, as our students come from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.
For those of us who believe that diversity is wealth, the stakes are high in building a campus climate that promotes a culture of open dialogue, civil discourse and empathetic listening over polarization.
Diversity doesn’t guarantee dialogue
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the noise. Reproaches over “cancel culture” and accusations of misinformation swirl around us, and sometimes it feels like we’re standing in the middle of a bonfire that’s getting out of control. On community college campuses, this challenge is real and urgent.
We’re not just talking about free speech as an abstract idea. We’re talking about how to create spaces where students—real people with jobs, families, and hopes for the future—can grapple with tough questions without fear. We owe it to our students to provide such a space.
The American Association of Community Colleges publication, Community College Daily, reported that community college students represent 39% of undergraduate students in the United States. Moreover, 49% of Hispanic college and university-going students attend a community college—53% for Native Americans, 39% for African Americans and 34% for Asian and Pacific Islanders.
A substantial population of our minoritized college-aged students rely on community colleges to provide an undergraduate experience that prepares them for roles in their communities—not just as workers but also as members of the larger community. These statistics aren’t just numbers, they’re a testament to the diversity and the promise of our campuses.
UB Research Question: How will micro-credentials make your campus smarter?
But diversity doesn’t guarantee dialogue or civil discourse. It takes intention and care. I’ve seen this firsthand through programs like guided pathways, which help students navigate college with clarity and purpose, and student support services like TRIO, which brings underserved students together for learning, mentorship and enrichment on and off campus.
These programs are like controlled burns—spaces where students can confront difficult issues in an environment that’s safe and structured, not destructive. These programs have also been zeroed out in the likely-to-pass federal budget.
I think about initiatives like Rise Up Center at Modesto Junior College, which offers numerous unique programs to help foster community among its students. I think about the students, faculty and staff at Howard Community College who, through the Center for Civic and Community Engagement, combine academic instruction, volunteer service and guided critical reflection in their community engagement work.
Modeling civil discourse
Still, there’s no ignoring the challenges. Organizations like the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression remind us that censorship and harassment can cut both ways. On one side, there’s fear that campuses are silencing ideas; on the other, the real harm that comes when words turn into weapons. Striking that balance is tricky but it’s crucial.
Our imperative as educators is not just to fill seats in a classroom. We’re called to model what thoughtful dialogue looks like—to show our students that disagreement doesn’t have to mean division (Brookfield & Preskill, 2005).
That’s why I believe community colleges can be the frontlines of this effort. When we get it right, we’re not just talking about academic success or increased employment opportunities, we’re talking about giving students the tools to be citizens in a riven world.
Here’s what I think it takes:
- Faculty training that helps teachers navigate these conversations with care.
- Partnerships with local groups to bring in real-world perspectives.
- Clear, consistent guidelines that protect students from harm while encouraging honest debate.
- Investment in structured dialogue initiatives—places where students can learn how to disagree with respect and curiosity.
Building bridges, not walls
Discourse at community colleges isn’t just about checking a box for free speech. It’s about nurturing the civic capacity of the next generation—building bridges where there might otherwise be walls.
In a world that often feels like it’s on fire, these spaces give us hope that we can fight it—together.
References:
AACC Fast Facts 2025. Community College Daily – American Association of Community Colleges. (2025, February 7). https://www.ccdaily.com/2025/02/aacc-fast-facts-2025/
Brookfield, S. D., & Preskill, S. (2005). Discussion as a Way of Teaching: Tools and Techniques for Democratic Classrooms (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.
Center for Civic and Community Engagement. Howard Community College. (n.d.). https://www.howardcc.edu/programs-courses/academics/center-for-civic-and-community-engagement/
Community colleges. Lumina Foundation. (2024, June 17). https://www.luminafoundation.org/topics/todays-institutions/community-colleges/
FIRE. (2023). Free speech on campus report 2023. https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/free-speech-campus-report-2023/
Rise up center. MJC. (n.d.). https://www.mjc.edu/riseup/index.html
