TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The University of Arizona announced Monday the creation of a national institute on civility. University officials say the institute was inspired by the Tucson shootings that left U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords severely wounded.
The school says the National Institute for Civil Discourse is a nonpartisan center for debate, research, education and policy generation regarding civility in public discourse.
The university says it was created to advance the national conversation currently taking place about civility in political debate.
The new center will be chaired by former Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
Giffords is recovering at a rehabilitation center in Houston after she was shot in the head Jan. 8 while meeting with constituents outside a Tucson-area grocery store. Twelve others were wounded and six were killed.
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