History and Purpose
Sponsored by the President’s Committee for Community Diversity and funded in part by the Liz Chandler Memorial Fund, TLE is an exciting opportunity for Agnes Scott students, faculty and staff to explore our intercultural connections and needs. The dialogues are designed to offer individuals strategic ways to engage in discussions related to a diverse range of topics connected with social identities (e.g., gender, class, faith, politics, sexuality, race, etc.). Participants are asked to commit to the program for four weeks.
Program Goals
- Increase opportunities for ASC community members to interact interculturally.
- Provide opportunities for ASC students to more fully engage the mission of the institution through active interaction in dialogues.
- Cultivate our students as “citizens of the world” by introducing the skills and awareness that are integral to their abilities to become future global leaders.
- Teach students to find consistent ways to think deeply, live honorably and engage the intellectual and social challenges of their times.
- Assist faculty, staff and students by providing more opportunities for them to connect through sustained intellectual and social interaction.
Dialogue Format
There will be two facilitators per group. Facilitators must meet the following requirements:
- Socially identify as a member of the dialogue group that they agree to facilitate
- Participate in a facilitator training meeting offered by the Office of Intercultural Affairs
- Attend the initial training, kickoff dinner and four 45-50-minute dialogues over the period of four weeks in April.
There will be eight to 10 students per group. Students must meet the following requirements:
- Hold membership in one of the groups represented by the dialogue
- Attend the kickoff dinner, dialogues over a period of six weeks and the closing reception.
2009-2010 Topics
- A Mrs. or Ph.D.: A discussion on roles and choices for women
- Oreos, Bananas & Coconuts, Oh My! A discussion on what it means to “act white”
- You’re Not Just Vanilla: A discussion on developing white identity
- You Have Such a Pretty Face! A discussion on size discrimination
- Gay, Straight, Black, White: Same Struggle, Same Fight?
Previous Topics (Spring 2008)
- Blended? Examining bi-cultural, bi-racial and multi-racial identities.
- I Believe? Exploring religious beliefs, faith practices and spiritual social identities.
- LBTQIQ or Heterosexual? Examining the social identities and relationships across sexual identities.
- Can't We All Just Get Along? Examining relationships between students of color and white students.
- What's Hot, What's Not? Examining current hot topics in the media and the world.