Boe Forum speaker to talk democracy, justice ahead of 2024 election

On March 19, Augustana and the Center for Western Studies will host an author and political commentator at the 27th annual Boe Forum, titled “America at the Crossroads: The Rule of Law and the Future of Democracy.” 

The Boe Forum is an annual event that is free and open to the public, and it intends to inform the public on issues of national concern. 

“This is for every student, every member of our campus community and the broader community as engaged citizens of a pluralistic society and democratic political system” President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin said.

David Brooks, this year’s speaker, has written for the New York Times as an opinion columnist since 2003 and has also worked as a commentator on PBS Newshour since 2004. 

Some of Brooks’ recent works include his weekly opinion article in the New York Times and his book “How to Know a Person,” which acts as a guide to foster deeper and more meaningful relationships and explores Brooks’ personal journey in developing his views on human connection.

Harry Thompson, executive director of the Center for Western Studies, said that when it came time to choose a speaker to address the rule of law and the future of democracy, the Boe Forum Committee considered several possibilities. 

“To find somebody to talk about it who wouldn’t be partisan was a very difficult thing to do,” Thompson said. “The committee explored several different options, from law scholars to political figures, but ultimately settled on David Brooks.” 

David Golemboski, professor of government and international affairs, said the rule of law is a timely topic. 

“The nature of the rule of law is core to how we understand ourselves as a self-governing republic,” Golemboski said. “It’s especially timely given that we’ve seen over the past few years significant challenges to the rule of law.” 

Golemboski said some of those challenges include the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in 2021 and efforts to influence the electoral process. 

“But also the fact that we’ve got a major presidential candidate who is under a series of criminal indictments means that we are testing the abilities of our institutions of justice to handle someone of that stature,” Golemboski said. 

Herseth Sandlin said 2024 will be a “consequential” election year. 

“Some would say the most consequential in some of our lifetimes,” Herseth Sandlin said. 

Brooks’ address will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Elmen Center. Following his speech, Herseth Sandlin will host the Q&A session with Brooks in which journalism and government students will participate.

“I would certainly hope that talking about this topic and bringing the community and Augustana together would make people think about the importance of the election coming up,” Thompson said. 

Sophomore Joseph Gebel, a government major, said he plans to attend the event. 

“I have tried to make it my mission not to miss any of the speakers that Augie brings to campus, even though I cannot always say I find myself agreeing with what they have to say 100% of the time,” Gebel said.

Freshman Abigail Smith, a government and communications major, said she hopes to connect the Boe Forum discussions to what she already has and will learn in her government studies. 

“It will be interesting to compare it to what I have learned about what democracy means and how the current state of the world is changing it,” Smith said. 

Tickets for the Boe Forum are available for Augustana students and members of the community and can be found at augie.edu/brooks.

“One thing David Brooks is attuned to is that the immediate political disputes that we see playing out on the front page of the newspaper from day to day are reflective of much deeper divides and disagreements that can feel almost philosophical,” Golemboski said. “I think there’s something clarifying to the debate in getting at that deeper level.”