D A R T M OU T H | On Campus
The Dartmouth Roundtable DINNER DISCUSSIONS CATER TO ACADEMIC COMMUNITY By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
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2018 :: christianunion.org
he Dartmouth Roundtable host- personal and warmer,” said Dahlberg. with larger, divine purposes. ed a series of dinner discussions “We try to have the topic and launch As for feedback, scholars often say for college faculty on a wide range of the questions to be fairly personal.” they regard the gatherings as an oasis, In 2009, Kent and Denise Dahl- a welcomed opportunity for rich contopics, including: the role of emotions in decision-making, the implications berg, former ministry leaders with templation and a break from intense of genetic engineering, and percep- Cru, formed Integrare (Integrare.us) scholarly duties. “Here is the chance as a student and adult ministry to the to step back, in a thoughtful way, to tions about self-character. The Christian organization recent- Dartmouth community. During the interact with other people who think ly wrapped up its fourth year of host- 2014-15 year, the couple helped very differently from you,” said Kent ing Dartmouth College academicians launch the Dartmouth Roundtable Dahlberg. for stimulating evening As well, the guests gatherings, often are largely open to touching upon science meaningful probes of and faith. Typically, contemporary issues about half of the parfrom both Christian ticipants are professed and secular worldviews. Christians, said Kent “There is a real hunDahlberg, a director ger for these opportuwho has served in camnities,” Dahlberg said. pus ministry for three In April, the Dartdecades. mouth Roundtable At its core, the dinfeatured Christian Millner series provides er, an author and Wake The Dartmouth Roundtable Dinner held a series of discussions opportunities for nonForest University produring the academic year with distinguished speakers such as Luke Christians to encounter fessor of moral philosChang (left) and James Sherley. believers in an engaging, ophy. On April 23, the non-confrontational Princeton University setting. On campus, secular scholars to mirror the success and reach of the alumnus of 1999 explored some of often do not have a lot of encounters Cambridge Roundtable on Science, the concepts from his 2017 book, The with people of faith who are thinking Art, and Religion in Massachusetts. Character Gap: How Good Are We? very deeply, Dahlberg said. As it turns out, most people are The dinners provide occasions for Unlike similar programs catering the organizers and their guests to form not actually as moral and honest as to other top universities, the Dart- meaningful connections with Dart- they believe themselves to be, accordmouth Roundtable incorporates a mouth faculty. ing to Miller’s findings. The author mixture of community and student “The conversation is impactful,” revealed strategies aimed at characleaders into the gatherings. About 70 said Dahlberg. ter-building. people attend each function inside the The Dahlbergs also hosted Miller Likewise, the Dahlbergs encourage charming, landmark Hanover Inn, participants to approach topics from for a breakfast gathering to discuss ways which dates back to 1769. their personal experiences. As such, Christian scholars can be more effective “Our dinners have a little less of Christian attendees often share ac- for God’s kingdom on campus. an academic edge. They are more counts of efforts to align life choices Among earlier gatherings, Dart-
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