FYE 101 - Dialogue Across Difference for Social Change

Our world is plagued with racism, sexism, poverty, climate change, and other systemic social problems. It is also increasingly polarized, with people insulating themselves from hearing viewpoints that differ from their own. News outlets cater to the worldviews their watchers already possess. This FYE will help students understand how our identities construct our positions, develop empathy towards those who might have different lived experiences, and dialogue with those who hold different views. Therefore, early in the semester students will engage in experiential exercises to reflect on their own social location/identities—how our identities embody social difference. How do those social groups impact our experience? How do power and privilege show up in our lives, especially as we relate to people who are different from us? They will learn about and practice the art of dialogue -what does dialogue mean? How are individuals and institutions using different types of dialogues to fight for social justice in local, national and global contexts? Students will participate in actual dialogues to learn how to listen, empathize and act to become social change agents.

Credits 1

Compass Attributes
First Year Experience