LYCOMING COLLEGE 2024 FALL MAGAZINE

“Politics is the art of making group decisions. Even something as simple as a public road entails many choices — where to build it, who will pay for it, what the speed limit will be — that can’t be left up to each individual citizen. One way or another, we have to reach decisions for the

“So many of our students go into direct public service through their chosen professions; think education, military, public agencies, law enforcement, health. Many others will work with public service agencies as an extension of their vocations or personal lives as clients, customers, or advocates. We all are impacted by public resources and policies. One of the advantages of working at Lycoming College is having the privilege to train students in critical thinking that prepares them for their careers, as well as to be good citizens. Williamsport offers a plethora of training locales that provide great skill development in incredible ways, allowing students to ask what kind of community they want to live in and how they contribute to making that community become the best it can be. Engaging with the local community, helping it to develop with our students through volunteerism, applied course projects, service learning, and practicum provides exposure for what students can do in their own communities, where they grew up, here on campus, and wherever their future

whole group that some of us like and the rest of us can live with. Democracy complicates this process by giving the public a say in how they are governed and by whom. The diversity of backgrounds and beliefs makes it impossible to please everyone most of the time, and elected officials must serve the whole public, even opponents. At Lycoming College, our political science program exposes students to a wide variety of political perspectives. Our majors not only hear views that contradict their own but practice articulating those views themselves, going beyond strawman

community awaits them.” - Betty McCall, Ph.D. Associate professor of sociology Lycoming College

arguments and stereotypes to truly understand the other side. Even though most don’t change their own opinions, they come away from the experience with a firmer grasp both of why they believe what they believe and why others believe differently. For a democracy such as ours to function, we need public servants who are passionate about their vocation while also being cognizant of different perspectives on the issues they face. Lycoming College fosters both of these qualities, as our alumni in public service demonstrate.” - Benjamin Kantack, Ph.D. Assistant professor of political science, Lycoming College

13 www.lycoming.edu