News: Fackler Barnstorms North America

Professor Mark Fackler lectures nationally on "virtuous communication"

“Finding hope in virtuous communication" is the theme of this year's Calvin Lecturer, CAS Professor Mark Fackler, who has been speaking to public universities throughout North America and Europe.

The Calvin Lectures originated six years ago when former Dean C. Steven Evans considered the importance of sharing our Christian education with other universities. Fackler explains that the goal is to “speak in a Christian cadence on the area of scholarship one knows best.” The series is offered at public universities, and is organized by the Christian Reformed Church's campus chaplains.

Fackler offers three lectures: “Continent in Chaos: Communication Theory and African Communitarianism,” “Media and the Iraq War,” and “Forbidden Knowledge: Click it or Ticket.” The first of these lectures, “Continent in Chaos,” focuses on communication methodology and notions of personhood in Africa. The second lecture is on media coverage in crisis situations. Fackler explains that journalism must incorporate essential values during these sensitive times. And finally, his lecture “Forbidden Knowledge” discusses the latest efforts of the Supreme Court in evaluating access restrictions on internet pornography. Fackler poses the question: "Are there things we should know only with caution, patience, and accountability?" His hope is that audiences will grow in their understanding of cross-cultural engagement, democracy, and moral life through public policy.

As is the case with most lectures given in secular environments, Fackler’s series has had mixed receptions. “I’ve had everything from people walking out to people applauding enthusiastically,” he says. Fackler finds the greatest challenge to be meeting new audiences and directing comments to the needs of people he doesn’t know. Thus far, the majority of his lectures have been given at Canadian universities. Confronting subtle differences in our two cultures in order to “translate into their terms” has been an important task. But of course, the rewards override the challenges. From observing the work of campus chaplains to viewing the recent lunar eclipse as it illuminated the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Fackler concludes that the program is a blessing. “It’s a lot of work — but good work — well worth it.”

—Kaitlyn Bohlin