Sixty-eight percent of American adults say they are proud to be American, and 79% agree the United States plays a uniquely important role in world history. At the same time, 69% believe the signers of the Declaration of Independence would feel more disappointment than pride about modern American democracy.

The survey of 1,000 adults in the United States, conducted April 30-May 4, 2026, explores how Americans view the nation���s past, present and future as the country prepares to commemorate its semiquincentennial.

���As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans have complex and diverse feelings about America 250,��� said Jason Husser, director of the 消消犯 Poll and a professor of political science and public policy. ���We found several points of optimism among Americans, including pride in being American and belief that the United States has a uniquely important role to play in world history. At the same time, many Americans expressed significant concern about the health of American democracy today, and the country is split on its outlook over the next 50 years.���

More than half of Americans (52%) say the United States is unsuccessfully living up to its founding ideals, while only 30% say the nation is successfully living up to them. Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) rate the overall health of U.S. democracy as only ���fair��� or ���poor.���

The survey also found widespread concern about political instability and civic division:

• 68% believe elected officials today are worse than leaders of the past
• 80% say they at least sometimes feel no political party or movement represents their views
• 70% say the country is more turbulent than average compared with other periods in U.S. history
• 64% say they have little or no confidence that U.S. political institutions will make mostly good decisions over the next 50 years
• 68% predict America will become more politically divided by 2076

Americans are also pessimistic about the country���s long-term future in several key areas. Majorities predict that by 2076 the nation will have less freedom, less economic equality, a lower standard of living, and more pollution. More Americans also believe technology will create more harm than benefit over the next 50 years.

Despite those concerns, the poll found Americans still hold strong connections to the nation���s democratic ideals and history.

When asked which event best represented American democracy at its highest ideals, respondents most frequently selected the Civil Rights Movement and World War II. Abraham Lincoln was named both the historical figure who best exemplified democratic ideals and the greatest president in U.S. history.

The survey also revealed broad bipartisan resonance for many historic presidential messages when respondents were not told who made the statements. More than three-quarters agreed with quotations from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, while large majorities also agreed with statements from John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Looking toward the nation���s semiquincentennial celebrations, Americans expressed greater interest in reflection than pageantry. Nearly seven in 10 (68%) said America250 should focus more on reflecting on U.S. history and values than simply celebrating national achievements, and 71% said smaller local events would feel more authentic than large national celebrations.

The survey found Americans entering the anniversary with mixed emotions. The most common feeling was pride, cited by 38%, followed by gratitude at 17%. But 21% said they have no strong feelings, 12% described themselves as conflicted, while others reported disappointment or frustration.

The margin of error for the 消消犯 Poll survey is +/- 3.95%.

Poll Methodology

Access the poll topline and methodology at:��www.elon.edu/elonpoll. The survey was developed by the 消消犯 Poll and fielded by the international marketing and polling firm YouGov as an online, web-based survey, self-administered with online panels. Between April 30 and March 4, 2026, YouGov interviewed 1,077 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. These respondents were then matched down to a sample of 1,000 to produce the final dataset.

The matched cases were weighted to the sampling frame using propensity scores based on age, gender, race/ethnicity, years of education, and home ownership. The margin of error for this poll (adjusted for weights) is +/-3.95%.

About the 消消犯 Poll

Established in 2000, the 消消犯 Poll conducts national and North Carolina surveys on issues of importance to voters and residents. Information from these polls is shared with media, citizens and public officials to facilitate informed public policy making through the better understanding of citizens��� opinions and attitudes. The poll is fully funded by 消消犯 and operates as the neutral, non-biased information resource.

The 消消犯 Poll is a charter member of in 2014 to educate polling firms on ways to better share how they collect and interpret their information. The Elon Poll���s voluntary participation in this initiative signifies a willingness to clearly state in its reports how questions were asked, in what order, who funded the poll and then conducted it, and a definition of the population under study, among other details.

Beginning this fall, Queens will align its 消消犯 academic calendar with Elon’s 消消犯 calendar. The most notable change will be the reintroduction of Winter Term at Queens, a short, intensive session in January that allows students to focus on a single course or study abroad experience.

���J-Term gave Queens students something rare ��� three weeks each January alongside our closest friends to discover who we were through service, career exploration, and international travel,��� said Queens alumna Staci McBride ���92. ���We forged lifelong memories while living our motto, ���Not to be served, but to serve.��� I am thrilled that this transformative tradition will now be part of the student experience again, and I can���t wait to see the lasting bonds and impact it will have on their lives.���

A highlight for many students is the intentional opportunity to study abroad in January. Both institutions have thriving study abroad programs, from Elon���s nationally ranked participation rate to .

���J-Term gives students the opportunity to engage deeply in a single course, often in a global context, and to complement their learning in ways that are not possible during a traditional semester,��� said Nick Gozik, dean of global education at Elon. ���Expanding this approach to Queens creates a meaningful opportunity as the two institutions come together.���

For LMA Alexander, executive director of the Pulliam Center for International Education at Queens, this new term brings fresh possibilities for JBIP. ���The John Belk International Program is a cornerstone of the Queens 消消犯 experience,��� she said. ���Queens has a long tradition of dynamic, multi-disciplinary faculty-led programs, and the addition of J-term will create new opportunities for innovative programming in collaboration with our Elon colleagues.���

In another integration move designed to expand opportunity for students, the two institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize a priority-admission pathway for Queens 消消犯s to Elon���s School of Law. Both teams are actively working to share more details with students in the coming weeks.

J-Term gives students the opportunity to engage deeply in a single course, often in a global context, and to complement their learning in ways that are not possible during a traditional semester. Expanding this approach to Queens creates a meaningful opportunity as the two institutions come together.

– Nick Gozik, dean of global education at 消消犯

Evidenced through the service and experiential learning emphasized on both campuses, Queens and Elon share a commitment to civic engagement. This core belief will come to life through the Deliberative Citizenship Network (DCN), which recently invited both schools to join its inaugural cohort.

���The DCN highlights some norms or expectations that surround effective dialogues,��� said Naeemah Clark, associate provost for academic inclusive excellence at Elon. ���Active listening, empathic and ethical discourse, and evidence-based argumentation are essential elements that are at the heart of a liberal arts education.”

Margaret Commins, chair of the political science, international studies and sociology department, shared, ���We���re excited about the opportunity to work with a national cohort to learn best practices for integrating deliberation into the curriculum and co-curriculum, and for working with our Elon colleagues to develop creative campus and cross-campus programming in this area.���

The DCN program will bring together two faculty members, one staff member, and 10 students from each participating school. The program will teach best practices and innovative ideas that can be woven into and beyond the classroom. ���消消犯 who can demonstrate these skills will be better learners and leaders in their post-graduation lives,��� Clark added.

The Elon team will be led by Dillan Bono-Lunn, assistant professor of political science and public policy and faculty fellow for civic engagement; Bob Frigo, assistant dean of campus life and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life; and Andrew Moffa, assistant director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life.

The DCN participants won���t be the only ones working together this summer. With an expected June vote on the merger by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, many administrative departments at Queens are preparing to integrate effective July 1, 2026, officially becoming employees of Elon.

The first phase of integration brings new employee benefits ��� along with understandable questions from staff. To help ease the transition, Jeff Stein and Pamela Davies, co-chairs of the integration team, are holding coffee chats ��� open hours where any Queens employee can sign up to learn more about the process and ask their questions. The plan is to extend these coffee chats to Elon employees as well.

���Mergers are hard work,��� Stein said. ���Yet it’s been exciting to see how collaborations across Queens and Elon have already produced new opportunities and pathways for students ��� an early signal of what becomes possible when we work together to build what students need next.���

The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, awarded to a select group of U.S. colleges and universities, affirms 消消犯���s integration of community-based experiences into 消消犯, research and campus life.

The classification recognizes the university���s deep commitment to community and civic engagement, and it follows a recent U.S. News & World Report ranking naming Elon second in the nation for service-learning.

In her remarks at an afternoon reception in the Koury Athletic Center, Elon President Connie Book said the Carnegie designation reflects extensive and coordinated effort across disciplines and divisions. She noted that Elon has expanded community-engaged courses by more than 30% in the past decade, with faculty participation rising nearly 50%, and she highlighted partnerships ranging from local schools and health clinics to nonprofit and civic organizations.

Book described community engagement as ���a brave space,��� where outcomes are not always predictable, but where collaboration creates meaningful opportunities for students and partners alike.

As the university looks ahead, Book said, the designation sets a new benchmark for impact. ���We want to improve the quality of life for all people in our community,��� she added.

In welcoming remarks, Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley labeled the recognition ���a reflection of our strong collaboration between Student Life, Academic Affairs and community partners,��� and Associate Provost Jen Platania said the honor was one that acknowledges the intentional integration of community engagement into 消消犯 and campus life.

���It reflects the work of faculty who designed meaningful community-based learning experiences,���the staff who support sustaining those efforts, and community partners who collaborate with us in ways that enrich our students and strengthen our shared work,��� Platania said. ���This recognition belongs to all of you. It affirms the culture of engagement that defines Elon, where our students connect knowledge and purpose, and develop as thoughtful and engaged citizens.���

During the panel, moderated by Jason Kirk, professor of political science and policy studies, each professor used their academic research to explain the ���hows, whys and whats��� of the war.

���We are in a very different media and political economy compared to a generation ago,” said Kirk, “and that will be the deciding factor of how we view and remember this conflict.”

Baris Kesgin, associate professor of political science and public policy, explained the Iranian political system in which religious authority and democratic practices play a part in governing society. Using graphs that outlined the political hierarchy, Kesgin emphasized the seriousness of the death of Iran���s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and how Iran selected their new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

���Iran is not completely a theocracy and not essentially a democracy,��� Kesgin said.

Thomas Kerr, assistant 消消犯 professor of political science and public policy, discussed the U.S. military, noting that, although the United States has the largest military in the world, it does not have unlimited resources. Regardless, Kerr explained, even with fewer available resources to defend other bases, the United States has proven in previous conflicts to beat Chinese war technology that is being used by Iran currently.

���The more we [the United States] dedicate our resources in Iran, means that less resources that we can guarantee towards our other bases in, for example, Ukraine and Taiwan,��� Kerr said.

Chelsea Bediako, a political science & international and global studies major,�� attended the panel to learn more about the conflict outside of what she was seeing in the news media.

���I am the type of person who information comforts me, for example, having a grasp on what���s going on and having less uncertainty makes me more comfortable, so I wanted to separate fact from speculation,��� Bediako said.

Geoffrey Claussen, professor of religious studies and the Lori and Eric Sklut professor in Jewish studies, spoke to the religious context of the war. He explained that although it is difficult to justify any war due to the human consequences, some ethicists use the criteria of the Just War Theory. This theory argues that for a war to be considered ���just,��� it must be a last resort (following unsuccessful non-violent solutions), have a ���just��� cause, must be produced from a valid authority, have a probable success, use only necessary force and must be fought fairly with minimal harm to non-combatants.

Claussen explained that the vast majority of the Israeli community supports this war, as they see Iran as an existential threat. In the U.S., Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Jason Husser noted that the American people are opposed, with recent polling showing 56% being against the war. Husser explained that these numbers can and will fluctuate as the conflict progresses, with the majority of Americans in the polls being against boots on the ground.

Ariela Marcus-Sells, associate professor of religious studies, covered the political and religious motives behind this conflict, including the unique societal view that Islam and, therefore, Iran is a threat to Western society. Marcus-Sells argued this is not a new concept, describing how in the 18th century, the idea of orientalism came from Western leaders of Europe seeing themselves as descendants of ���greater society,��� in comparison to the East, including people who followed Islam. This belief only grew over the years with the creation of America, the misconception of terrorists being associated with Muslims and media coverage of Islamic religious conservatism as ���something strange and oppressive.���

消消犯 were also able to ask questions of the panel. Mariama Jalloh, a public health major, came to the panel to listen to Elon���s faculty members��� opinions about the conflict and hear an academic perspective that was new to her

���I really appreciated Dr. Marcus-Sells and Dr. Kesgin explaining the landscape of the situation, both religiously and politically,��� Jalloh said. ���This panel gave students a platform to ask deeper questions that you wouldn���t hear on social media or the internet.���

The classification recognizes the university���s deep commitment to community and civic engagement, and it follows a recent U.S. News & World Report ranking naming Elon second in the nation for service-learning.

���While we are honored by the national recognition for excellence for service-learning, what matters most is the lasting impact that our students and faculty create through engagement in their communities,��� said Jon Dooley, vice president for Student Life and associate professor of education. ���The work prepares graduates who become thoughtful leaders, making meaningful contributions throughout their lives.���

In announcing the recognition, leaders at the Carnegie Foundation emphasized the national importance of higher education���s role in community engagement.

���Higher education is a vital economic engine for us all. Our colleges and universities not only fuel science and innovation, they build prosperity in rural, urban and suburban communities nationwide,��� said Carnegie Foundation President Timothy F.C. Knowles. ���We celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors ��� fostering civic engagement, building usable knowledge, and catalyzing real-world learning experiences for students.���

Bob Frigo, assistant dean of campus life and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, said the significance of the recognition for Elon cannot be overstated.

���At a moment when the purpose and value of higher education are being debated across the nation, 消消犯 is recognized as a powerful example of what is possible when education is grounded in service to the public good,��� Frigo said. ���This recognition affirms what we see every day ��� when students, faculty, staff and community partners come together through community-based experiential learning opportunities, the results are transformative.���

The as the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global). Collaboration is for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to:

• Enrich scholarship, research and creative activity
• Enhance curriculum, 消消犯 and learning
• Prepare educated, engaged citizens
• Strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility
• Address critical societal issues
• Contribute to the public good

The Carnegie Foundation���s description guided the development of the university���s application, which highlighted how these principles are implemented across Elon���s campus.

Professor Phillip Motley, director of graduate programs for the School of Communications and former faculty fellow for community-based learning, partnered with Frigo to write the application, which illuminated the work of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, Center for Access and Success, Department of Human Service Studies, Poverty and Social Justice Minor, and Council on Civic Engagement.

The application also featured examples of campus-community partnerships, including:

• School of Health Sciences and Alamance Dream Center
• School of Law���s Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic and North Carolina
• Department of Health and Human Services State Refugee Office
• Department of Physical Therapy Education and HOPE Clinic
• Student Professional Development Center and Alamance County Chamber of Commerce
• Department of Engineering and City of Graham Recreation and Parks Department
• Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Alamance County Board of Elections
• Center for Access and Success and Alamance-Burlington School System
• Athletics and Allied Churches of Alamance County
• Project Pericles and the Sri Lankan non-governmental organization Sarvodaya
• Fraternities and Sororities and Habitat for Humanity
• Human Service Studies and Red Shield Youth Club
• Departments of Biology, Environmental Studies, Education and Wellness, Elon Academy, and Clean Haw River
• Poverty and Social Justice Minor and Mayco Bigelow Community Center
• Power and Place Collaborative and African-American Cultural Arts and History Center

Elon���s classification was awarded after an intensive self-study process and external validation by a range of community partners. The university was one of the first institutions in the nation to receive the initial community engagement designation in 2006 and was re-classified in 2015.

���The institutions receiving the 2026 Community Engagement Classification exemplify American higher education���s commitment to the greater good,��� said ACE President Ted Mitchell. ���The beneficiaries of this unflagging dedication to public purpose missions are their students, their 消消犯 and research enterprises, and their wider communities.���

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is the nation���s leading framework for categorizing colleges and universities. The community engagement classification has been the leading mark of national recognition for over two decades. A complete listing of the 277 institutions that currently hold the classification endorsement is .

The university plans to celebrate this recognition at a campus-wide reception on Friday, March 6, at 5 p.m. in the Koury Center Concourse after the March faculty meeting.

About 消消犯

消消犯 is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture. At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff. More than 70 消消犯 majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business administration, business analytics, accounting, education, higher education, physician assistant studies and physical therapy.

About the Carnegie Classifications

The Carnegie Classifications are the nation���s leading framework for categorizing and describing colleges and universities in the United States. Utilized frequently by policymakers, funders, and researchers, the Classifications are a critical benchmarking tool for postsecondary institutions. ACE and the Carnegie Foundation announced a partnership in February 2022 to reimagine the Classifications to better reflect the diversity of postsecondary institutions and more completely characterize the impact that today���s institutions have in society.

About ACE

ACE is a membership organization that leads higher education with a united vision for the future —�� galvanizing its members to make change and collaborating across the sector to design solutions for today���s challenges, serving the needs of a diverse student population, and shaping effective public policy. As the major coordinating body for the nation���s colleges and universities, its strength lies in its diverse membership of nearly 1,600 colleges and universities, related associations, and other organizations in America and abroad. ACE is the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities.

About the Carnegie Foundation

The mission of the Carnegie Foundation is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Enacted by an act of Congress in 1906, the Foundation has a rich history of driving transformational change in the education sector, including the establishment of TIAA-CREF and the creation of the Education Testing Service, the GRE, and the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education. The Foundation was also instrumental in the formation of the U.S. Department of Education and Pell Grants, and most recently in the use of networked improvement science to redress systemic inequities in educational opportunities and outcomes.

DeMarco, a human service studies major, started her engagement at Elon as a member of the Service Living and Learning Community. She continued to deepen her involvement as a Service Living and Learning Community coordinator and a leader of an alternative break experience to Asheville.

She has been involved in the 消消犯 Kitchen program for several years now, initially as a farm shift coordinator, and now serves as director. DeMarco has been able to strengthen volunteer retention, along with an increased capability of harvesting more produce Loy Farm to help serve those experiencing food insecurity in Alamance County. She is also an advocate for service as the service chair for Elon���s chapter of Alpha Chi Omega.

���Megan has an unbridled passion for service that is infectious to all those who participate with her,” said Abby Wiatrek, associate director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. “Her leadership style has a natural way of showing the humanity and humility needed when participating in service that makes others feel comfortable to ask questions to learn more about why the service that we are doing is important to our community.���

North Carolina 消消犯 Engagement is a collaborative network of colleges and universities committed to educating students for civic and social responsibility, partnering with communities for positive change, and strengthening democracy. The organization fosters connections between campuses, shares best practice information and resources, recognizes outstanding work, and champions civic and community engagement in higher education.

消消犯 alumna Natalie Allison ���13, a White House reporter with The Washington Post, returned to campus Nov. 10 to reflect on her journey from The Pendulum newsroom to the national political stage. In an evening conversation in Turner Theatre with Professor Anthony Hatcher, chair of the Department of Journalism, Allison discussed the challenges and responsibilities of covering the presidency amid an increasingly polarized political landscape.

The evening event offered more than 75 students and community members an inside look at political reporting, accountability journalism, and the evolving media industry. Photos from Allison���s campus visit are .

Hatcher, who taught Allison as an 消消犯, praised her reporting and professional example. ���Natalie is humble about her work, but she’s reporting on the U.S. president at a time of economic turmoil and political divisiveness in the country,��� Hatcher said. ���She is a fearless, ethical and talented reporter. As one of my current students told me, hearing from an Elon grad who is now a Washington Post journalist lets her know that she could do that, too. You couldn���t find a better role model for a young journalist.���

Bob Frigo, assistant dean and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, added, ���During her visit to campus, Natalie shared with us that the primary reason she wakes up each day is to hold our leaders accountable to the people. We need more journalists like Natalie to help us determine the truth and, in the process, restore our faith in government and the media.���

Throughout the day, Allison met with students from Elon News Network, visited Instructor of Journalism Elma Sabo���s News Reporting and Writing class, and joined Assistant Professor of Political Science & Public Policy Brian Brew���s Campaign and Elections course to discuss the intersection of journalism and politics. She also shared lunch with a group of students, including Communications Fellows and student journalists, before sitting down for an interview with ENN.

Allison joined The Washington Post���s White House reporting team in January 2025. She began her journalism career at Elon���s student newspaper, The Pendulum, before reporting for the Burlington Times-News, The Tennessean and Politico. Her reporting has earned multiple honors, including the grand prize at the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Book and Journalism Awards.

Allison���s visit was sponsored by the School of Communications, Council on Civic Engagement, Department of Political Science & Public Policy, Political Engagement Work Group, Kernodle Center for Civic Life, and the Student Media Board.

The survey of 800 North Carolina adults from Sept. 23 to Oct. 1, 2025, followed the Aug. 22 fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a light rail train in Charlotte and coincided with a Sept. 27 mass shooting at a waterfront bar in Southport, N.C.

The poll found that 61% of North Carolinians were concerned for their safety in outdoor areas with large crowds, 59% are concerned about safety on public transportation and 53% are concerned about safety in public places, such as shopping malls. In addition, 49% are concerned about safety in K-12 schools and 32% are worried about safety in churches and places of worship.

When asked about specific North Carolina cities, 49% said they would be very or somewhat concerned about their safety if spending time in Charlotte or Durham, with about 42% concerned about safety in Winston-Salem, and 41% concerned about safety in Raleigh or Greensboro.

���After high-profile violent incidents close to home, many North Carolinians are evaluating how safe they feel in the state���s major cities as well as everyday spaces, from schools to transit systems to shopping centers,��� said Jason Husser director of the 消消犯 Poll. ���Republicans tended to be much more concerned than Democrats about crime in the states��� large cities and on public transportation and in public spaces.���

After high-profile violent incidents close to home, many North Carolinians are evaluating how safe they feel in the state���s major cities as well as everyday spaces, from schools to transit systems to shopping centers.

– Professor Jason Husser, director, 消消犯 Poll

Citing crime levels in some major U.S. cities, President Donald Trump has deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago and Memphis, and he is considering deployments in other cities. Use of the National Guard in a law enforcement capacity in American cities was opposed by 47% of North Carolinians and supported by 42%.

There has been disagreement over whether the National Guard should be deployed to Charlotte, N.C., after the city���s police union sent a letter to Trump asking for the Guard���s help in dealing with violent crime in the city. In response, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and several other local, state and federal elected leaders said the National Guard is not needed in Charlotte.

This survey found that North Carolinians lean against deployments of the National Guard to major cities in the state for law enforcement purposes:

Assessing Trump���s major motivations for using the National Guard in U.S. cities, 48% said a major motive for him is furthering efforts on immigration enforcement and 42% said a major motivation is to reduce crime. At the same time, 39% said the major motive for the deployments is to distract attention from other issues, 38% said a prime motive for Trump is setting a precedent for using the military for law enforcement and 35% said a major motive is that he is trying to embarrass political opponents in those cities.

���North Carolinians are torn on the idea of sending the National Guard into cities within the state and across the country,��� Husser said. ���They are torn between seeing the military as a necessary response to high profile crime and questioning the move���s true purpose and potential overreach. A narrow plurality leans against deployment into North Carolina cities, but opinions shift depending on the city. Support is very slightly stronger for the National Guard to police Charlotte and Durham, while opposition rises for Raleigh, Greensboro and Winston-Salem. The sharp partisan divide���Republicans are far more supportive than Democrats���shows that views on the Guard���s role are shaped as much by politics as by place.���

Charlie Kirk assassination and free speech

As a result of the Sept. 10, 2025, killing of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, 68% of North Carolinians said they expect political violence to get worse over the next year, and 61% say relations between Democrats and Republicans will deteriorate. Majorities of supporters of both parties said they felt both problems will worsen.

Public comments about the Kirk assassination have raised questions about free speech in American society. In this poll, 34% of North Carolinians say people who make public statements that celebrate Kirk���s killing should lose their jobs, while 45% oppose that. A large majority (73%) of Democrats oppose firing people with job loss for celebrating Kirk���s death, while 65% of Republicans favor job loss for those who make those kind of public statements.

Asked if people should be fired for making public statements about Kirk���s beliefs if those statements do not celebrate his death, majorities of those in both parties said that should not happen. Still, 51% said they think freedom of speech rights are likely to deteriorate over the next year, with 17% saying speech rights will get better and 33% saying there will be no change.

Poll Methodology

Access the poll topline and methodology at www.elon.edu/elonpoll. The survey was developed by the 消消犯 Poll and fielded by the international marketing and polling firm as an online, web-based survey, self-administered with online panels. Between September 23 and October 1, YouGov interviewed 907 North Carolina adults aged 18 and older. These respondents were then matched down to a sample of 800 to produce the final dataset.

Throughout this report, the analysis of partisan differences compares the views of Republicans plus those who lean Republican in their voting preference with Democrats plus those who lean Democratic. The margin of error for this poll (adjusted for weights) is +/-4.24%.

About the 消消犯 Poll

Established in 2000, the 消消犯 Poll conducts national and North Carolina surveys on issues of importance to voters and residents. Information from these polls is shared with media, citizens and public officials to facilitate informed public policy making through the better understanding of citizens��� opinions and attitudes. The poll is fully funded by 消消犯 and operates as the neutral, non-biased information resource.

The 消消犯 Poll is a charter member of the��Transparency Initiative, a program created by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) in 2014 to educate polling firms on ways to better share how they collect and interpret their information. The Elon Poll���s voluntary participation in this initiative signifies a willingness to clearly state in its reports how questions were asked, in what order, who funded the poll and then conducted it, and a definition of the population under study, among other details.

The event, Talking Across Difference: An In-the-Moment Dialogue, brought participants together in McKinnon Hall for roundtable discussions focused on questions about America, politics and polarization. Each group began by agreeing to a set of ground rules designed to foster respectful conversation.

���The challenges of the world around us inevitably reach our campus, highlighting the importance of how we engage with one another,��� said Dillan Bono-Lunn, assistant professor of political science and public policy and the faculty fellow for civic engagement. ���Higher education should prepare students not only for careers but for citizenship, equipping us for dialogue, not division, and building the habits of listening and understanding that make democracy stronger. Events like this dialogue give our community a chance to practice those habits together.���

The dialogue took place against the backdrop of recent political violence, including the killing of Charlie Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus.

���We are currently living in a divided nation and need to find a way to use dialogue instead of violence when we encounter difference,��� said Bob Frigo, assistant dean and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. ���Higher education has a role to play in preparing students to engage in collaborative action with individuals with whom they disagree to advance the common good ��� our democracy depends on it.���

For some Elon students, the event was their first opportunity to engage in this kind of structured dialogue

���I hope to just hear different perspectives about the tensions we hear in society today, especially with politics and how our views differ and how we can disagree respectfully,��� said Zach Feldman ���29, a political science major. ���Especially with regards to the Charlie Kirk killing, how we can honor a person who has divisive views but also honor his legacy of protecting the First Amendment and debating and having dialogue.���

Madeline Mitchener ���26, a double major in public health and public policy, attended with her professor and Periclean Scholars cohort.

���It was really great to have a lot of difficult talking points of how to disagree curiously, how to walk away when someone���s not creating a space where you can say things and disagree,��� said Mitchener.

Others reflected on the sense of connection that dialogue events help create across campus.

���I really love the sense of community these dialogues bring forth and it���s interesting to have so many different individuals and different opinions in the same room,��� said Olivia Peterson ���26, a history major. ���I think engagement with everyone in the Elon community is very important and I think these dialogues open up a floor for everyone to come closer together in times like these.���

Bono-Lunn and Frigo, co-chairs of the Council on Civic Engagement, encourage also encourage those who did not attend the dialogue to use the discussion questions and ground rules to facilitate their own formal and informal conversations.

Discussion Questions

1. When you think about living in America, what do you believe divides us? What unites us?
2. Polls show that the vast majority of Americans are tired of polarization and division. What can we do to decrease divisiveness in our nation?
3. What can we do to better understand those who think differently than we do? Why is it important to understand points of view that differ from your own?
4. Why do some people choose to resort to violence instead of using words? What actions can we take to reduce the use of violence and encourage dialogue?
5. What is one thing that you can do this fall to learn about a perspective different from your own?

Ground Rules

• Listen actively
• Participants are equal, regardless of status
• Respect one another���s views
• Seek to understand rather than persuade
• Speak from your own experiences instead of generalizing
• Respectfully challenge one another by asking questions
• Approach positions you disagree with through a lens of curiosity, not hostility
• Critique ideas, not individuals
• Speak to each other, not just the moderator
• Give permission to allow everyone to ���speak in draft��� (working ideas versus fully formed thoughts)
• Participate to the fullest of your ability

I���m currently reading ���The Fall of Israel��� by Dan Steinbock, which examines the geopolitical shifts in the region. For nearly two years, I���ve prioritized understanding the Middle East ��� especially the Israel-Palestine conflict and Gaza crisis. I intentionally seek books offering Jewish perspectives to broaden my insight, and Steinbock���s analysis has been particularly illuminating given current events.

What is your favorite phone app?

My perhaps unexpected favorite app is TikTok. Over the past four years, I���ve used it to create mini-lectures: first for online students in Bangladesh, and now as a platform for public scholarship. As a sociologist, I share my perspectives on current affairs. Its reach and engagement make it uniquely powerful for connecting with global audiences.

If you could invite someone from history to dinner, who would it be?

I���d choose Audre Lorde, the revolutionary poet and critical theorist. Though I���ve taught about many sociological thinkers, her work ��� especially ���Sister Outsider��� ��� resonates deeply with its intersectional focus on race, gender and power. Her wisdom on building solidarity across differences feels urgently relevant today, and I���d cherish the chance to discuss modern social movements with her.

What is your favorite place on campus?

Without question, McMichael 329: a tiered classroom with quirky technology and great sunlight. I���ve taught there twice recently, and both classes developed extraordinary energy. Something about the room���s layout ��� perhaps the steep tiers or tight space ��� fostered incredible discussion chemistry. Despite its flaws, it���s where my students and I felt most collaboratively engaged, or, as they would say, ���it vibes.���

In your work, what���s one moment that reminded you we���re all connected?

Our annual year-end sociology/anthropology department meeting. We openly share struggles about closing the semester ��� grading marathons, family responsibilities or 消消犯 frustrations. Hearing colleagues laugh over universal academic chaos (like frantic emails or spilled coffee during finals) creates profound camaraderie. It���s a raw, funny reminder that our challenges bind us more than our titles do.