California Secretary of State Shirley Weber Visits USD

Weber featured in fireside chat on civil discourse

California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, PhD, focuses her gaze on the audience assembled in the Mother Hill Reading Room of USD’s Copley Library, and asks a question that is equal parts simple, and profund: “If you feel disconnected from your community … who moved?”

In posing the question, Secretary Weber is helping attendees connect the dots on how they, as community members, can make a difference where they live. It’s a central theme of an engaging fireside chat titled “How Civil Discourse Can Make A National Election Meaningful Locally.” 

The event, co-sponsored by Student Affairs and Copley Library, featured a wide-ranging conversation between Secretary Weber and USD Assistant Professor of Sociology Angela Nurse, PhD. Topics ranged from voter participation to the pros and cons of social media in an election cycle, to how respect and civility can help people of differing opinions find common ground.

Below are some excerpts from Secretary Weber’s responses to questions posed during the discussion:

On Voter Participation:

“You have power. Voting is power. By [voting], you are letting [elected officials] know that you are looking for them to change things; that we need to change things. If you don’t vote, you are giving someone else that power. You are giving someone else the opportunity to determine who makes the decisions that will impact your community. If you are unhappy about the way things are, then the responsibility falls on you to help create change. And voting is a critical part of that process.”

On the Infuence of Social Media During an Election Cycle:

“I’m not a big fan of social media personally … but I understand its power to inform, and often, to misinform. In our office, we have people reaching out to us all the time about things that they hear about on social media. I can’t speak for anyone else, but my office is committed to providing people with factual information about voting, about what’s on the ballot, and what voting ‘yes’ or ‘no’ means. I am concerned about how it’s being used to sway and misinform people, as I think many are … “

On the Practice of Civil Discourse:

“I’ve been [in the California legislature] for a while now. You know how I connect with everyone? I talk to them. I know their families. Democrat or Republican. It doesn’t matter. You may disagree with someone’s point of view on a particular thing, but you need to, as best you can, try to understand who they really are. Why do they believe what they believe? Real connection comes from talking to someone. Do not remove that very real, very human element from your life.”

Secretary Weber was nominated to serve as California Secretary of State by Governor Gavin Newsom on Dec. 22, 2020 and sworn into office on Jan. 29, 2021. Voters elected her for a full term on Nov. 8, 2022. 

Weber is California’s first Black Secretary of State and only the fifth African American to serve as a state constitutional officer in California’s 173-year history.

— USD News Center