Julia Kane ’27
Staff Writer
On the evening of Monday, February 12th, students and staff gathered for the second Holy Cross Dialogue Dinner event to facilitate constructive and civilized dialogue surrounding the upcoming 2024 national election. The first dialogue dinner was held on November 13th, amidst the conflict in Israel and Gaza over a catered Thanksgiving dinner. The events are aided by Professor Daniel Klinghard and Professor Ellen Perry, as well as other administrators from varying departments to support the conversation, provide background information, and welcome the participants. SPEECH peer educators serve as the moderators at each table, guiding the dialogue by posing questions, allowing time to be equally divided, and leaving time for reflection at the end of the discussion. They reinforce guidelines for students to abide by as they discuss, some of which include statements such as “Speak for yourself (not on behalf of or in defense of a whole group) and let others do the same.” and “Notice the assumptions you are making and ask genuine questions to find out whether they’re accurate.”
In an ever-changing world and increasingly polarized political climate, dialogue dinners are a useful agent to foster respectful conversation regarding difficult topics that may be deemed controversial. This goal aligns with those of the SPEECH peer educators, which stands for Students Promoting Expression, Empathy, & Civic Harmony. The group aims to educate the Holy Cross community about the importance of free speech and civic duties, which they support by taking part in dialogue dinners.
The February 12th dinner was enjoyed by all participants and was described using words such as “inspiring”, “educational”, and “good community”, among others. Molly Brewer ‘27 stated, “It was a great group of civically minded students coming together to discuss issues that are important to us.” The next dialogue dinner will be held on April 4th from 6-8, with a delicious dinner and insightful conversation. No matter where you lie on the political spectrum, join to share your opinions and gain new perspectives!
Featured Image Courtesy of MyHC
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