Campus Events

Upcoming Workshops:

November:

Families and Politics: How To Talk to Family Members on the Other Side

Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., CSB Upper Gorecki, 204A. Lunch provided.

Workshop by Carol Bruess, PhD, Family Social Scientist and Scholar-in-Residence for Relationships & Dialogue, CSBSJU

Family relationships are increasingly becoming casualties of our toxic political environment. Family members are having destructive political arguments, avoiding each other, or even cutting off relationships altogether. If you want to preserve important family bonds while still being fully true to your values and beliefs and learn how to navigate the upcoming holidays where tensions might be hotter than the turkey and stuffing, this workshop is for you.

In the workshop, you’ll learn:

Why family differences over politics are uniquely challenging.
Common roles that family members play in political conversations (for example: the Gladiator, the Defender, the Sniper).
Strategies and skills for handling family political differences in a constructive way.

Although the focus is on family relationships, you can use learnings in this workshop with anyone with whom you have a relationship. We’ll also laugh and have a little fun in this workshop. After all, most of our families are at least a little quirky, right?

December:

Families and Politics (all are welcome) A great workshop to help prepare you for better dialogues at the Thanksgiving table, no matter how you or your family members voted.
DATE & LOCATION TBD

January:

Skills for Disagreeing Better (all are welcome) A great workshop to help prepare you for better dialogues at the Thanksgiving table, no matter how you or your family members voted.
DATE & LOCATION TBD

Special Workshop Requests

If your campus department, group, residence hall, team, or area would like to invite or host a Disagreeing Better workshop, please contact us at [email protected]. We are happy to entertain all inquiries.

Past Events

Launch week for Disagreeing Better at CSB+SJU is September 16-19, 2024! There is something for everyone.

Monday, September 16:

2:30-4 p.m. (SJU, in front of Great Hall): All are welcome to enjoy Jupiter Moon Ice Cream Truck and lawn games. Meet someone new and find one thing you have in common!
5:30-7 p.m. (SJU, Quad 264): Students-only “Skills for Disagreeing Better” workshop offered by Dr. Carol Bruess. Dinner included. Register here. Limit 100.

Tuesday, September 17:

3:30-5 p.m. (CSB, Upper Gorecki): Community-wide “Skills for Disagreeing Better” workshop offered by Dr. Bill Doherty, co-founder of Braver Angels. Register here. Questions: [email protected]
5-6 p.m. (BAC Patio, CSB): Community-wide outdoor picnic with lawn games and fun conversation starters. Registration preferred but not required.
6-7:30 p.m. (Gorecki Family Theater, BAC, CSB): Community-wide viewing of the Braver Angels documentary Reuniting America (50 min) with post-viewing discussion led by Dr. Bill Doherty and Sandra Mitchell, CSB+SJU Senior Diversity Officer. (Free and open to all. No RSVP required.)
Today is National Voter Registration Day. Look for tabling on both campuses, and special guest appearance at CSB in the afternoon by Secretary of State Steve Simon!

Wednesday, September 18:

6-7:30 p.m. (Upper Gorecki, CSB): The first annual Bennie Johnnie Tommie Debate! Yes, University of St. Thomas students will make their way to our beautiful campuses and engage with Bennies and Johnnies in a Braver Angel style debate. Topic: “Is Cancel Culture Limiting Free Speech in America?“
Register to attend or be a speaker-participant here.
Debate:
- The Bennie/Johnnie/Tommie Debate is a cornerstone of our Disagreeing Better initiative, designed to bring students from CSB, SJU and the University of St. Thomas together in a unique discussion format.
- In today’s polarized political climate, this debate series — guided by the Braver Angels College Debates process — offers an alternative to traditional, adversarial debates. Instead of focusing on winning or losing, participants engage in a collective exploration of complex and often contentious topics. Through deep listening, critical thinking and respectful dialogue, students can better understand diverse perspectives and contribute to a more thoughtful and informed campus community. The series is an opportunity to practice the Benedictine value of listening with the ear of the heart while engaging with some of the most challenging issues facing our society today.
- Two fall semester debates have been scheduled:
  - Sept. 18, 2024, 6-7:30 p.m., Upper Gorecki, at the College of Saint Benedict
    Topic: “Is Cancel Culture Erasing Free Speech in America?”
  - Oct. 7, 2024, 6-7:30 p.m., at the University of St. Thomas. Topic: “Social Media has Ruined an Entire Generation.”

Thursday, September 19:

Keynote event, 7-8:30 p.m. (Steven B. Humphrey Theater, SJU): In collaboration with the McCarthy Lecture, all are welcome to attend an engaging evening featuring author and professor John Inazu in collaboration with The Theater of Public Policy improv-comedy group. Inazu is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis. He’ll dialogue with Tane Danger of the Theatre of Public Policy about his latest book Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect (2024), after which the TPP improv actors will delight us with their thoughts and reactions. It will be an evening of important discussions mixed with joy and much laughter. (Free and open to public. No RSVP required.)

Monday, October 7:

Second Student Debate: Bennies / Johnnies / Tommies

Topic: “Social media has ruined an entire generation.”
Date: Monday October 7, 2024
Time: 6-7:30pm
Location: University of St. Thomas

Transportation and dinner included for all CSB + SJU students attending or speaking. Departure time 4pm near the Gorecki Bus Stop. Staff and faculty welcome to attend as observers. Sign up to be a speaker or observer here.

WORKSHOPS

September:

Sept 16, 5:30-7 p.m. (SJU, QUAD 264): Skills for Disagreeing Better (students-only) workshop offered by Dr. Carol Bruess. Dinner included. Register here. Limit 100. Questions: [email protected]

September 17, 3:30-5 p.m. (CSB, Upper Gorecki): Skills for Disagreeing Better (all are welcome) led by Dr. Bill Doherty. Register here. Limit 100. Questions: [email protected]