The Champlain College Social Impact Scholars invite you to “Let us Discuss”

I coordinate the Social Impact Scholars program on campus and next week (the week of February 15th), the scholars will present an event called “Let Us Discuss.” It will be held according to the following schedule online via InSpace (link below):

Monday 2/15, 11:35AM to 12:20PM
Monday 2/15: 2:35PM to 3:20PM
Tuesday 2/16: 11:35AM to 12:20PM
Tuesday 2/16, 1:05PM to 1:50 PM
Friday 2/19: 1:05PM to 1:50PM
Friday 2/19, 2:35PM to 3:20PM

Even 15 or 20 minutes at the event will be sufficient to get the point of what we are doing, and I think it would be appropriate for most–if not all–classes in which collaborative and inclusive discussion is a key teaching method.

There will be 3 or 4 chat rooms set up in the area, each one devoted to a different topic. All comers are invited to discuss the topic in that room, using inclusive communication guidelines (these will be provided). After 5 or 10 or 20 minutes, they can switch to a different room and new topic, if they like. And they can do this repeatedly for the full 40 minutes.

Each scheduled session will offer different topics and new student facilitators.

The first 5 minutes will be an introduction to the event, laying out the ground rules and explaining the procedures.

“LET US DISCUSS …” topics vary widely and will include:

  • legalizing cannabis
  • antisemitism
  • environmental policies
  • social media restrictions/censorship
  • COVID and the impact on working mothers
  • COVID and the impact on the environment
  • COVID and the effect of screentime on student mental health
  • domestic violence
  • corporate food realities
  • racism and Asian communities
  • White fragility and BLM protests
  • communities of hate in gaming
  • a universal base income in the U.S.
  • introducing sucide clinics to the U.S.
  • the legacy of Fred Hampton (Black Panther in the 1960s)
  • the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

These issues are complex ones. There are no RIGHT answers here and all perspectives will be welcome–but everyone will be required to listen to others who may disagree!

LINK:https://inspace.chat/space/B081DC8E50CE974A30892C812AED1722F27FE378

All are welcome to join in. 
–Eric

Eric Ronis, Ph.D., M.F.A. (he/him/his)Lead Faculty, Social Impact Scholars
https://justgiving.com/campaign/Champlain-SISAssistant Dean for CCM Academics
C402A (CCM Building 4th floor)
Champlain College
Burlington, VT 05402802-651-5889