Let’s Be SVL focuses on spreading memorable, repeatable messages on college campuses that strengthen civil discourse.
SVL, pronounced like civil, represents how to have successful conversations across the political spectrum: share Stories, relate to others’ Values, and closely Listen.
Let’s Be SVL’s messaging also seeks to address the misperceptions many students have of one another that reduce interest in political conversations and engagement.
Piloted at Vanderbilt University, Let’s Be SVL is testing campus-wide messaging campaigns, including flyers, Instagram content, and announcements from various campus leaders.
Piloted at Vanderbilt University, Let’s Be SVL is testing campus-wide messaging campaigns, including flyers, Instagram content, and announcements from various campus leaders.
In the wake of the 2024 election and October 7th, the need for constructive political dialogue on college campuses has never been greater. Students need skills and confidence to engage across the political spectrum.
More Like US applauds existing efforts, but gaps remain:
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Students need ongoing reminders
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Opt-in programs have many gaps
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Few address anxiety about cross-ideological conversations
Let’s Be SVL aims to reach:
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Students who need continued reinforcement after mandatory programs
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Students with limited dialogue experience
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Students who misperceive peers across the political spectrum and avoid engagement
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The SVL “civil” framework offers simple tools for political conversations: share Stories, connect to others’ Values, and closely Listen.
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Stories build understanding and avoid fact-based arguments.
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Values help messages resonate with what others care about.
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Listening fosters open-mindedness and mutual respect.
Developed from the work of Stanford sociologist Dr. Robb Willer, More Like US packaged it into a memorable SVL mnemonic.
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More Like US’s Let’s Be SVL campaign also includes messaging designed to reduce the hesitancy to engage in civil discourse. The 2025 Connection Opportunity report from More in Common finds that “intergroup anxiety” is the strongest factor shaping whether people want to connect across assumed political differences.
Much of this anxiety stems from overly negative misperceptions of those across the political spectrum, often called the “Perception Gap.” To address that, we highlight the “3C’s,” showing that Americans across parties are more Civil, Curious, and have more in Common than we think:
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Civil: Only a small minority believe hostility is acceptable in political conversations, yet people greatly overestimate how hostile the other side is.
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Curious: Americans are often interested in hearing opposing perspectives, but wrongly assume others are not.
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Common: Research consistently shows far more shared ground across the political spectrum than expected, with most Americans holding moderate or overlapping views.
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