For the last several years, the DCI has hosted a kickoff party at the beginning of every semester to create a space for students and other members of our community to get together after being apart over the winter and summer breaks. These parties are designed to be low-key and fun – we have music, provide pizza, and give away prizes throughout the event. We also provide a lightly structured opportunity for people who join us to talk about a range of interesting topics – political and social issues, economic and education issues, and a mix of thought-provoking and light-hearted life questions. Throughout the event, we also share information about upcoming DCI events and some quick tips on how to deliberate constructively and respectfully across differences.
This spring we mixed it up a little bit by co-hosting the event with the Ping Pong Club and enabling people to play some ping pong in between their bites of pizza and their conversations with new and old friends. While there were a few errant balls that might have hit people as they returning for a second piece of pizza :), it was a great mashup of physical activity and dynamic discussions. We had nearly 50 people join us, many of whom had never attended a DCI event before, and several signed up for our upcoming DCI programs.
Table discussions were thoughtful and engaged, guided by our DCI Fellows. Every fifteen minutes or so, people were invited to move to a different table to explore a different set of topics. Some certainly did so, but many stuck with their current conversation partners, happy to further engage with one another on the questions raised at their table.
Overall, it was a great way to kickoff the semester and continue our efforts to promote a more deliberative culture on campus, and to show how deliberation can be fun and welcoming for everyone (ping pong players and non ping pong players alike!).
