What does an SD Program Look Like?
Consistent
Dialogue Meetings
Students are asked
to meet regularly and explore topics of their
choice with individuals who they wouldn't have
otherwise had any space to interact. These
discussions are held frequently; some groups
meet twice a month, others meet once a week.
Sustained Participation
Each
SD group consists of 6-12 participants who are
asked to repeatedly meet with each other. This
group is most well-suited for SD when it is
reflective of community diversity.
Run by
Students
Two students, trained by
SDCN, moderate each groups' dialogue meetings,
not professors or outside facilitators.
SD student leaders organize the dialogues and
the tasks surrounding creating an active
student group on campus.
Purposeful
Content
Dialogues focus on probing a
particular subject that divides the community,
especially those that are often ignored or seen
as normal. Each group of students works
towards a collective action designed to engage
others and address these problems in the larger
campus community.
Student-created
Events and Action
Dialogue
participants and SD student leaders both
organize events aimed at turning their dialogue
content into useful changes in the university
community. Some groups choose to make
recommendations to administrators, some choose
to hold well-publicized, awareness-building
events, others choose to hold film screenings,
forums, and town-hall meetings. The resulting
action is created with the input of the diverse
members of dialogue groups.