02/11/18 Senegal Interim Trip – Makena Muguru ‘18 and Fatima Akbar ‘18
“As you may know Makena and I were taking a class in Senegal over Interim so, for this weekend’s discussion, we wanted to share some of our experiences. In this discussion, we will touch on a variety of topics such as but not limited to food, market/entrepreneurship, modernities/globalization, and Islam in modern media with a focus on Senegal and, more specifically, in Dakar.”
02/18/18 The Role of Music in Our Lives – Matias Pyle ‘18
“This coming Sunday I want to talk about the role music plays in our lives, and how important it is even though it doesn’t really seem to serve any purpose besides being enjoyable. For the beginning of the discussion, think about a song or an artist whose music is meaningful to you and why you enjoy listening to it/them.”
02/25/18 The Olympics – Ilias Pihas ‘20
“Since it is Olympics szn, for discussion this week I wanted to talk about the games as they intersect with international relations and the general commercialization of professional sports. The Olympics provide an interesting forum for not only feats of athletic excellence but also gives us the ability to witness the interactions between people from nations around the world which can both highlight world unity but also international tensions.”
“So, for Sunday’s discussion, I’d like to talk about trigger/content warnings. Questions to consider:
Do you think trigger warnings are necessary and/or helpful?
Do you think trigger warnings go too far?
What place do trigger and content warnings have on college campuses?
What is the relationship between trigger warnings and censorship?”
03/25/18 Show and Tell – Ayleen Correa ‘19 and Kimesha Branch ‘19
“For this week’s Sunday discussion, we will be having a Show n’ Tell so get pumped!! Bring an item, show us some dance moves, play a Youtube clip, write us a song… The options are endless! The conversation this week is about our stories and our narratives, the importance of such, and the power of communicating it. So get ready to bond with members of the house and engage in fun thoughtful conversations.”
04/01/18 Youth Activism – Rosario Rivera ‘20 and R. Brad Au ‘19
“For our discussion we’ll be talking about the youth activism that has emerged in the wake of the Parkland shooting. The March for Our Lives and student walkouts seem to indicate that young people are actively participating in and in some cases taking charge in the crusade for sensible gun control after numerous massacres. This has serious political, cultural, and social ramifications for the United States and has elicited a variety of responses–many positive but also highly negative as well.”
04/08/18 The Trend of Mental Illness – Jennie Richardson ‘20
“This week’s discussion is going to be about the “trend of mental illness” and the incorporation of mental illness terms into common vocabulary. As mental illness and mental health struggles continue to become less stigmatized, there is still the problem with these terms become sold, fetishized, and made apart of common vocabulary.”
04/15/18 The Genius – Muhamad Bah ‘18
“I want to discuss what is Genus. This is an age old question that has never been completely answered. The concept of the Genius is elusive and changes with time. As we learn more about the human brain scientist attempt to link the Genius to physical traits but with that we still do not completely agree on what a Genius is.”
04/22/18 Women in Power, Documentary Screening of “The Iron Lady” – Bilal Akbar ‘18
“One topic that has been on my mind since women’s history month recently has been women in positions of power. How do women navigate male-dominated power structures? How does religion and specified gender roles impact women’s ability to participate in politics? Are certain skills and qualities necessary for women to survive in politics?”
04/29/18 Home – Alex Murrel ‘19
“The overall theme is Home. Home can mean something different to every person. It could be a physical place, a person, it could be an object you carry with you, or a pet. The first part of discussion will be a creative activity. The second part will be discussing that activity, as well as what it can mean to not have a classic “home” or anything resembling one.”