Students Embrace “A Braver Campus Dialogue” at Hofstra University

By Mae Rum

The College Debates and Discourse (CD&D) Alliance’s initiatives expanded dramatically in 2024, bringing immersive debates and workshops to students and faculty on scores of campuses across the nation. While deepening relationships with many of our established campuses, we also forged partnerships with more than 20 new institutions.

Every time we launch into work with a new campus, there is an initial sense of excitement and exhilaration. As the relationship builds, that feeling persists. Each school we partner with has its own unique community of students and faculty who hold deeply personal perspectives on issues dividing their campus—and our country.

In January, CD&D Alliance Associate Director Sadie Webb and I made our first visit to one such new partner school, Hofstra University, where we led an engaging workshop conducted in a new format that our team developed in 2024: A Braver Campus Dialogue (ABCD).

Like our debates, Braver Campus Dialogues foster conversations in which participants discover that differing viewpoints are not obstacles but essential components in addressing our most controversial issues. Unlike debates, however, they don’t compel participants to take affirming or opposing sides around a topic. Guided by an experienced moderator, participants navigate the intricate complexities of the issue at hand, gain a deeper understanding of its root causes, and explore potential solutions.

Serving as moderator, Sadie started the workshop by asking participants to take a moment to reflect silently on the question that Hofstra’s organizers had selected with our team: “How can our political differences strengthen our community?”

Participants felt comfortable allowing some heat because they knew the moderator would prevent escalation. . .

This quickly led to a dynamic discussion in which students expressed what the heart of the issue meant to them. After they had listened deeply to one another and explored the topic in depth, Sadie guided participants toward the second part of the session, in which they began to consider meaningful ways to address political differences.

At one point, the conversation took a surprising turn toward immigration and identity politics. A few students shared personal stories of engaging with someone who did not respect or acknowledge their personal identity. Some expressed a view that it is not possible to have a successful conversation this way, while others urged their peers to consider asking, “Why do you think or feel that?”— even at the risk of provoking some discomfort.

The ABCD format allowed for charged disagreement without rancor. Participants felt comfortable allowing some heat because they knew the moderator would prevent escalation. They shared their beliefs openly, listened to peers who held strongly differing opinions, and explored how interacting with disagreement could benefit the campus community.

Afterward, several students stuck around to converse with one another. Their enthusiasm was palpable as they expressed interest in hosting more events like this at Hofstra. One student, who serves as a resident assistant, even suggested extending similar conversations to her first-year residents. 

Our visit to Hofstra illustrates the CD&D Alliance’s potential to strengthen communication and trust among campus communities by fostering respectful discourse. As we expand our reach across the nation, we welcome similar collaborations and the impactful relationships that can follow.

Interested in learning more and bringing an ABCD workshop to your campus or classroom?
Download our ABCD fact sheet.