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- Community Relations
The University of Scranton
800 Linden Street
Scranton, PA 18510-4699
1.570.941.4419
community@scranton.edu 
Civic Dialogue
Spring 2025 Events
Bursting our Political Bubbles: A Dialogue on the Recent Executive Orders
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, The University of Scranton’s Political Dialogues Working Group will host a nonpartisan political dialogue on the recent executive orders in the Kane Forum, ELH 235 from 7-9 pm. This dialogue is open to current University of Scranton students.
Register for March 25 Dialogue
The University has organized similar discussions on campus since 2017 as part of an ongoing “Bursting Our Political Bubbles” Dialogue Initiative, which blends the reflective, structured dialogue methods of national non-profit Essential Partners with St. Ignatius of Loyola’s teachings of discernment and reflection. Questions? Contact community@scranton.edu or 570-941-4419.
Fall 2024 Events
What are your Hopes for the Nation? A Scranton Conversation
Scranton Public LIbrary
Albright Memorial Library
500 Vine Street, Scranton 18509
As part of the Scranton Stories oral history initiative, 33 interviewees were asked about their hopes for the nation. At this event, a week prior to Constitution Day, view some of their feedback and join the conversation in facilitated small group dialogue with your Scranton neighbors.
Light Refreshments will be served.
Register for Sept. 12 Dialogue
Fall Student Political Dialogue
Monday, Oct. 28, 7-9pm
The fall 2024 student political dialogue will take place on campus and will focus on the Presidential Elections, your vote and your values. Register here.
These campus dialogues provide an opportunity for students to engage in a non-partisan open discussion about important issues, to explore personal values that they hold, and to listen and learn from others. Students will have a chance to engage and encounter each other's experiences and views - not debate or persuade - through structured dialogue to build understanding.
The University has organized similar discussions on campus since 2017 as part of an ongoing “Bursting Our Political Bubbles” Dialogue Initiative, which blends the reflective, structured dialogue methods of national non-profit Essential Partners with St. Ignatius of Loyola’s teachings of discernment and reflection.
Questions? Contact community@scranton.edu or 570-941-4419.
Spring 2024 Political Dialogues
On Monday, February 26, 2024, The University of Scranton’s Political Dialogues Working Group will host a nonpartisan political dialogue on the upcoming Presidential Elections 2024 in LSC 133 from 7-9 pm. This dialogue is open to current University of Scranton students.
On Monday, April 15, The University of Scranton's Political Dialogues Working Group will host a dialogue on the topic of Israel-Palestine in The Kane Forum from 7-9 pm. This dialogue is open to current University of Scranton students.
Prior to the April Dialogue, consider attending "Fostering Justice & Peace in Israel/Palestine: Palestinian & Jewish Perspectives on Current Realities & the Path Forward" on Wednesday, March 21, 2024 in The Pearn Auditorium, Brennan Hall from 5-6:30 pm. Omar Dajani, Professor of Law, University of the Pacific, and Mira Sucharov, Professor of Political Science, Carleton University will join via Zoom for this event. This event will be in-person and will be available via live-stream. Free & open to the public. To register, please click here.
Spring 2023 Political Dialogue
On Monday, April 3, 2023 The University of Scranton’s Political Dialogues Working Group hosted a nonpartisan political dialogue on the topic of guns in The Kane Forum from 7-9 pm. This dialogue was open to current University of Scranton students.
These campus dialogues provide an opportunity for students to engage in a non-partisan open discussion about important issues, to explore personal values that they hold, and to listen and learn from others. Students will have a chance to engage and encounter each other's experiences and views - not debate or persuade - through structured dialogue to build understanding.
Spring 2022 Political Dialogue
In the Spring 2022 semester The University of Scranton’s Political Dialogues Working Group hosted a political dialogue, Freedom and Our Founding: What do they mean for us today?, on Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m. in virtually via Zoom. This dialogue was open to both members of the University and community. Over 20 participants came together to share with and listen to learn from others in a dialogue on our shared value of freedom.
These campus dialogues provide an opportunity for students to engage in a non-partisan open discussion about important issues, to explore personal values that they hold, and to listen and learn from others. Students will have a chance to engage and encounter each other's experiences and views - not debate or persuade - through structured dialogue to build understanding.
Spring 2021 Political Dialogues
The University of Scranton’s Political Dialogues Working Group offered two virtual student political dialogues in the Spring 2021 semester. The first dialogue, Democracy: Are We "Brave Enough to Be It"?, was held on Wednesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. and was joined by 56 student participants that came together to share with and listen to learn from others in a dialogue on our shared value of democracy. The spring's second dialogue, Exploring "Cancel Culture," was held on Tuesday, April 20 at 7 p.m. virtually via Zoom and 50 students joined this dialogue.
These campus dialogues provided an opportunity for students to engage in a non-partisan open discussion about important issues, to explore personal values that they hold, and to listen and learn from others. Students had a chance to engage and encounter each other's experiences and views - not debate or persuade - through structured dialogue to build understanding.
About Bursting Political Bubbles: Dialogue Across Differences
In the Jesuit tradition, students practice listening to understand in a recent civic engagement initiative to bridge the political divide.
The "Bursting Our Political Bubbles Dialogue Initiative" was formed in 2017 by a Campus Working Group. This campus-wide initiative aims to bring students together, outside of class but in connection with academic courses, to share their personal experiences and beliefs — and, more important, to listen to others — in a space that is confidential and respectful and open to the unexpected and uncomfortable. Using a method called Reflective Structured Dialogue conceived of by Essential Partners, a nonprofit organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that helps “foster constructive dialogue where conflicts are driven by differences in identity, beliefs
Since its inception, this civic dialogue initiative has also coordinated blended dialogues, which invite both students and community members, along with community dialogues.
Read More About the Civic Dialogues
Faculty and staff of the University and community members interested in learning more or becoming facilitators, can email community@scranton.edu for more information.