One of the reasons I was excited about going to university was the prospect of being able to have discussions about pressing sociopolitical issues with perspectives I hadn’t encountered. Yet, I was disappointed. There were plenty of clubs for intra-political dialogue, such as College Democrats and College Republicans, as well as competitive spaces for winning arguments, such as the Debate Society. But I was unable to find a place for open and honest dialogue between people of different beliefs. So, I decided to start an organization that did just that. 

Previous Speaker Dialogues

Previous Student Discussions

Recorded Events

Press Coverage

Mission Statement

The Douglass Dialogues aims to create a space for students of all political and philosophical backgrounds to discuss what they find to be the pressing socio-cultural and political issues of the day. We advocate for and believe that open and honest dialogue regarding the different approaches and interpretations of these issues is the best way forward in making the world a better place. To learn about these different approaches we host student discussions and invite reputable speakers to speak to students, by presenting their ideas and engaging in a dialogue. We believe this dialectical process is positive in three main ways:

1. It allows students to understand and refute opposing ideas, and thus become more confident in their preexisting beliefs.

2. It allows students to understand and modify their preexisting beliefs as a consequence of exposure and acceptance of previously rejected or not previously considered ideas.

3. It allows students to, at the very least, become more nuanced with their beliefs as a consequence of reconciliation with their exposure to new ideas.