The Liberal in Liberal Arts education is often mistaken to mean the opposite of conservative but in reality refers to the practice of freedom. As the United States contends with societal woes such as political divide and the rise of hate groups, our higher education system is in a unique position to prepare students with civil discourse abilities and critical thinking skills that not only prepare them for a job out of college but for a fulfilling life of civic engagement. The Liberal in Liberal Arts education is often mistaken to mean the opposite of conservative but in reality refers to the practice of freedom. As the United States contends with societal woes such as political divide and the rise of hate groups, our higher education system is in a unique position to prepare students with civil discourse abilities and critical thinking skills that not only prepare them for a job out of college but for a fulfilling life of civic engagement. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx