Think Again @ UVA

Calling all Hoos! All undergraduate and graduate students are invited to apply to the University of Virginia's Sixth Annual Student Oratory Competition. Write and deliver a five-minute speech responding to the prompt: "250 Years & Counting: Tell the story of a moment when American democracy was tested and persevered." The winner in each division will receive a $1,000 cash prize.  Applications are due by 11:59 PM on Sunday, October 25. To enter, please complete this form: forms.cloud.microsoft/r/99ut… The Final Competition will be held before a public audience in the Dome Room of the Rotunda on Monday, November 16, at 5:30 PM. Finalists will deliver their speeches to a bipartisan panel of former White House and cabinet speechwriters.

We love when “Disagree with a Professor” happens on other campuses! Read about Stanford University’s inaugural “Disagree” here ⬇️ thecollegefix.com/independen…

We made the news! "Disagree with a Professor: The Podcast" is a new project from Think Again where UVa students sit across from faculty and discuss hard topics like immigration, higher education, and philosophy. People like it so much, we just got covered by @DailyProgress 🎉 7 episodes are live now with more released every week. Find us wherever you get your podcasts.  Read the article below.

On Monday, April 13, @TheFP, @paramountplus, and @CBSNews brought their live debate series, "Things That Matter," to the University of Virginia. Held in our very own Rotunda Dome Room, liberal commentator @harryjsisson and conservative commentator @theisabelb tackled some of the defining pressures facing young Americans: housing costs, religion, mental health, climate anxiety, and financial insecurity. The result is exactly the kind of conversation we believe university campuses need more of: thoughtful, genuine disagreement between people who've wrestled with the same problems and arrived at different conclusions. Watch the debate here. (You might even spot some familiar faces in the audience!) youtube.com/watch?v=8ySYaxzr…

Something we’ve been working on for a long time is finally here! Disagree with a Professor, our favorite live event, is now a podcast. Three undergraduate student hosts, Peter McHugh, Lidia Zur Muhlen, and Makayla Castle, sit down with professors at the University of Virginia and respectfully push back. Not to be contrarian, but because they believe that’s how you actually learn something. We’ve spoken with terrorism law experts, political economists, a former Green Beret who changed his mind about the military draft, and a psychologist who will change how you think about your entire adult life. We've talked about everything from AI ethics to whether or not ghosts are real— and they will all be available starting today. The first three episodes are now available wherever you find your podcasts. linktr.ee/disagreewithaprof

On Friday, March 20, the University of Virginia and Georgetown went head-to-head in the inaugural Collegiate Oratory Cup. Eight student orators, four from each university, took to the podium in the Virginia Supreme Court and delivered original five-minute speeches that responded to the prompt: “Describe an event from American history and explain how it illustrates a founding principle of the Declaration of Independence.” Deanna Wilbourn, a fourth year at UVA, was named the winner, winning both UVA’s Oratory Competition last November and the final Face-Off. #uva250 #uva #georgetown #oratorycompetition #declarationofindependence

Last month on Presidents’ Day, @UVA's Office of the President carried on the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in a remarkable way: one of UVA's very own copies was put on display in the Dome Room of the Rotunda. We celebrated with flash seminars, musical numbers by student and faculty groups, and free merch. The line was out the door the entire afternoon— it was a huge success. Seeing the Declaration up close, at Jefferson’s own university, was a powerful reminder of the ideals that our country was founded on. Watch the recap video here! youtube.com/watch?v=UXvG52p6…

We're just a month into the semester here at UVA, and we’re off to a great start! Think Again has already hosted three events, and we’re excited to continue expanding our programming to reach even more students. Recent highlights include: 1) A luncheon with student leaders featuring Professors Robert George and Cornel West, authors of "Truth Matters: A Dialogue on Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division.” 2) What’s the Buzz?: a new discussion-based event series exploring culturally relevant issues. This time, we discussed issues related to foreign policy. Professor John Owen kicked us off with an introduction to key themes in foreign policy. 3) Disagree with a Professor: a fan favorite featuring four professors and 12 statements up for defense. Last Friday, we were joined by Professors Bonnie Hagerman, Julia Mahoney, Jacqueline Arthur-Montagne, and Mary Kate Cary. Students interested in joining the conversation can sign up for our student newsletter to stay in the loop. Link: mailchi.mp/thinkagainuva/stu… And yes, we have free lunch at every event!

Love this NYT Opinion by @DavidAFrench. We're excited for UVA's Theological Horizons to host him in March! "And that means using whatever influence that colleges do have to introduce a single important thought into even the most ideologically and religiously committed young minds: What if I’m wrong? It is that recognition that can change a life. It is that recognition that can open a heart." nytimes.com/2026/01/25/opini…