Democracy and the Humanities: A Conversation with Cornel West

Democracy and the Humanities: A Conversation with Cornel West Thursday, October 29, 2026 7-8:30 p.m. CASE Auditorium Join an evening of conversation with Cornel West, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary, author of more than 20 books, and 2024 Independent Presidential Candidate. Dr. West will explore some of the most fraught questions facing higher education today: Why do the humanities matter for democracy? What are the most pressing challenges facing our society, and how do literature, history, philosophy, religion, and the arts empower us to address those challenges? How can universities shape the civic life of a nation and elevate the voices of its members, and how can we both defend and reimagine higher education in a time of political polarization and anti-intellectualism? Dr. West will reflect on these questions, wrestling with the past, present, and future of democracy and intellectual life in the United States and beyond. This event will be moderated by Elia...