By Matthew Dooley Staff writer
The “Let’s Talk Dinner” series started off its third year on campus with a dinner titled “You Matter” on Sept. 1.
According to the Dean of Academic Engagement James Black, “The ‘Let’s Talk Dinners’ [were created] to help students engage outside the classroom in intellectual discussion, to build on academic interest [and] to get to know faculty.”
The dinner took place in the Shearer Dining Rooms in Degenstein Campus Center where the students were provided food and an opportunity for engaging discussions.
The event allows students to meet “new people that you probably would never interact with before,” said Dena Salerno, the assistant dean for intercultural and community engagement.
Students casually conversed with other students and faculty as they ate a buffet-style meal before the official discussion began for the night.
After they finished their meals Salerno began the moderation of the “You Matter” discussion. This “Let’s Talk Dinner” was important to her because, “this summer was especially charged and filled with a lot of violence,” she said.
The discussion revolved around many topics including reverse culture shocks after Global Opportunity trips, reactions toward the new Black Lives Matter flag in Degenstein Campus Center and feelings of frustration over American culture as a whole.
After a summer like this past one, Salerno said she wanted to make sure the students were comfortable with the issues at hand. “We start to think about what kind of shape are our [students] coming back in and what kinds of things are on their minds and hearts. And also, our faculty and staff. It was a lot to take in over the summer,” Salerno said.
According to Black, “[Salerno] was interested in starting off the year by doing something that addressed all [identity groups affected] without going to something like ‘All lives matter’ that dilutes the importance of the individual identity groups. She came up with the title ‘You Matter’.”
As the event continued, students spoke up about how it felt to be back at school after such a controversial summer.
“Although I did not resonate entirely with the direction the conversation went it was evident that many others were able to connect to the conversation,” Junior Troy Spencer said after the event.
He added, “I got more out of hearing the thoughts and concerns of others than I did of my own personal resonance with the questions of the night.”
Black hopes for more audience participation as the “Let’s Talk Dinner” series continues. “As we go further, getting the attendees to talk more and more has been a goal,” he said. “Not that I think that major world problems are going to be solved in these dinners, but maybe someone gets to come up with an idea that they would not have really done on their own.”
Spencer said: “I am a strong believer in community and by sharing our thoughts we grow together. By creating this tightly knit community, we can achieve, overcome and respond to more situations and events than if we act as individuals.”
If anyone wants to experience a “Let’s Talk Dinner” for themselves, Lakeisha Meyer, director of disability services, will be hosting one about academics and activism, and Michelle DeMary, professor of political science, will be hosting one focused on the upcoming presidential election soon in the Shearer Dining Rooms in Degenstein Campus Center.