Brian O. Earle: "Civility and Manners—Do They Really Matter?"

In this final lecture of Cornell's free summer lecture series, Brian Earle, long a standard-bearer for proper etiquette, will offer a light-hearted look at how we can all improve our social interactions, our use of electronic devices, and our dining manners. Earle has championed the cause of good manners since his early days of teaching in Cornell's Department of Communications. "I began getting more and more questions from students who had second interviews over lunch," says Earle—who then decided that table manners and common courtesy deserved a place in the curriculum.

Retired since 2008, Earle still gives lectures for the career offices on campus and speaks at many schools on the East Coast. His talks range from the art of holding successful conversations with new acquaintances to how to use digital devices politely. Says Earle, "It's up to each of us to contribute to a more civil environment."

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