What would happen if 40 students from a dozen colleges across the commonwealth were brought together for a two-day summit to draft a new declaration for the future of American democracy?
It happened. Three government and international politics (GVIP) students in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University attended Declaration Next, a multifaceted program presented in October by the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy as part of its signature Democracy360 initiative.
The students—Neelam Gurung, Nia Christy, and Jayden Banks—joined students from colleges and universities around Virginia on UVA’s grounds to engage with scholars and to practice core democratic skills—with the intention of shaping the future of civic engagement.
The program immersed students in the history of the country’s founding of the country followed by guided debates until reaching a “declaration for the modern generation.” Fittingly, the event commemorated next year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
It was not a passive experience, the Schar School students said. For a day-and-a-half, after enjoying a traditional communal meal know as a Jeffersonian “Feast of Reason,” the participants engaged in working sessions with scholars and practitioners with the intention of creating a unanimous document.
The event, said Gurung, “was an enriching experience. We had many good discussions and debates, which provided a great way to connect and exchange ideas.”
The junior GVIP major said a highlight was being selected for the seven-member committee tasked with synthesizing the resolutions drafted by various subcommittees in the creation of the new declaration.
“Each subcommittee had students from different schools, so it was interesting to see all the different perspectives and ideas,” she said. “Being part of this process helped me learn how to collaborate and bring everyone’s ideas together.”
Banks, a senior in the GVIP program from Alexandria, Virginia, said Declaration Next was his first visit to the historic campus known as “Grounds,” which served as the backdrop of another first for Banks: an organized protest.
During the lunchbreak he and others stepped outside the campus Rotunda to witness an organized community and student protest against the Trump administration’s controversial “compact” with the university to call off federal investigations.
Observing the protest made an impact: “It was certainly timely as our discussions on democracy were being played out right outside the Rotunda” where they were meeting, he said.
Throughout the day, students discussed “how our democracy was in danger and established priorities to inform the next 250 years of our country’s governance,” Banks said. “One of the greatest takeaways I got from this event is the statement: ‘The highest office in the land isn’t the president of the United States, it’s the citizen of the United States.’”
The concept resonated with him.
“I really love this statement because it emphasizes the value of the people as the core of our democracy,” he said. “As a future leader, I hope to live by this statement—serving the people first and ensuring their voices are heard.
“I already knew our democracy was in jeopardy. But participating in this event opened my eyes to the serious challenges our country faces, including the lack of transparency and self-interest in politics. I hope to make a change and protect our democracy.”
Gurung, originally from Pocatello, Idaho, encouraged students to participate in off-campus events such as Declaration Next “because they provide a platform to develop critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills while also fostering meaningful connections with both faculty and fellow students.
“Programs like the ones from the Karsh Institute of Democracy are a great way to get involved and understand more about democracy and civic engagement,” she said.
