Past Dialogue Programming
Fall 2024
In the fall of 2024, the Dialogues Across DIfferences program led three different dialogue series, each with the goal of connecting differing groups. Please find more info about each of these series below:
2024 Presidential Election
The Dialogues Across Differences (DxD) program designed and facilitated two dialogues centered around the 2024 presidential election, given the execessive polarization surrounding the last few presidential elections. The first dialogue was between Dickinson Democrats and Dickinson Republicans with the goal of having the two groups understand each others' political convictions on a more personal level . The second dialogue was held after the election and centered around how the election results impacted the campus community, and how our community can survive polarization.
Student-Athletes & Non-Athletes
A student-athlete working for the DxD program led the charge on a dialogue series centered around the divide between student-athletes and non-athletes. We had noticed a trend of these groups staying relatively separate, and had heard some student-athletes express their difficulties with meetings students outside of their sport due to their busy schedules. So, we decided to carve a space and time for these two groups to better understand each other and "clear the air" of how they feel about one another.
New Protest Policy
A student senator who worked for DxD brought together students from different Dickinson communities came together to discuss Dickinson's new protest policy after . They expressed their feelings about the new policy and their desire of more transparency from the administration regarding this new policy. The students put togehter a list of what they wanted to express to the administration and a series of actionable steps to have a more transparent relationship between the student body and administration.
Spring 2025
In the spring of 2025, the Dialogues Across Differences program designed and facilitated four dialogues centered around campus-culture and current events.
Greek Life
After witnessing a stark divide between the Greek Life and non-Greek communities here at Dickinson, in conjunction with both sides expressing that they feel stereotyped by others, the Dialogues Across Differences program set out to make that divide smaller. We brought together represensatives of different Greek Life organizations and students who are not members of the Greek Life community together to discuss the stereotypes and misconceptions they face. The group was able to empathize with one another and understood why people may choose to join (or not join) a Greek Life community. It also increased communication between current Greek Life organizations and encouraged more partnerships between these organizations.
Artificial Intelligence
With the realm of academic grappling with the emergence of Aritificial Intelligence (AI), and the implementation of it from Google to your toothbrush, the Dialogues Across Differences provided a space for students, faculty, and staff members to discuss how, if at all, they use AI and their feelings regarding AI becoming more mainstream. The group was able to emphasize with the fears surrounding AI and gained a greater understanding of useful applications of AI.
Joke's on Who? Understanding the Difference of Intent vs. Impact in Comedy
This dialogue program centered around offensive/edgy humor and discussed the line between dark humor and offensive humor, how internet culture has influenced our idea of comedy, and the relationship between free speech and responsible expression. Participants gained a greater understanding of how different types of humor impacts different people, and several participants left the dialogue with a desire to continue the conversation and learn about other perspectives regarding comedy.
YikYak
YikYak has become a heavily used social media platform at Dickinson since it's relaunch in 2021. Students use it to advertise upcoming events or ask questions about Dickinson logistics, but students also use it to spread rumors and fight anonymously with other anonymous peers. We brought a group of students, varying in YikYak usage, to discuss the app and it's place at Dickinson, as well as the following questions How does it help the Dickinson community? How does it hurt? At the end of the day, does it cause more harm or good to our community?