“The Deliberation Dinners are a great experience for any student on campus that grants the participating individual greater insight into current topics of debate within local, state, national, and international politics. I highly recommend the program to anyone as you are able to meet not only new friends but also have these topics of debate in a respectful manner thanks to the facilitators.”
–Tyler Buechs
“Deliberation Dinners was very important to me because it allowed me to engage in productive conversations about contemporary issues with people you wouldn't typically engage with. It was an invaluable part of my freshman year that I would recommend to any incoming students to our school.”
–Irene Cho
“Overall, I have really enjoyed getting to discuss each month’s topic. I think the project addresses a big problem in our society and being able to talk about “hot topics” in an environment where everyone is trying to learn from each other has been a very cool thing to witness and take part in. I have really appreciated starting the monthly meetings with a meal. I know the benefit of doing this has been mentioned multiple times, but I really feel that it creates a sense of camaraderie and lets relationships form in a way that maybe wouldn’t be possible without the dinner segment of the nights.”
–Sylvia D.
“Being a Deliberation Dinner participant was a defining part of my first year on campus. It was an opportunity to easily meet students from different years, majors, and backgrounds, which made me feel more connected within our large university. I always left these discussions feeling more confident in articulating my thoughts and my knowledge of relevant topics. The year flew by, and each meal was a milestone, making the last one pretty bittersweet!”
–Charlotte Mark
“Talking (briefly) a bit more about the opportunity to form a unique relationship with peers in which you can cut right to the chase and talk about hot-button issues while skipping formalities. I know people who have been friends for years and still can’t discuss politics with one another, or the reason they’re still friends is because they established “no political talk!” as a rule near the start of their relationship. The Deliberation Dinners were really cool for me because I had the opportunity to release any inhibitions but still deliberate in a civilized manner, without worrying about ending any friendships! Now after the dinners, I will carry these skills over to other relationships and friendships when controversial topics arise.”
–Teresa Nelson