EPISCOPAL UP CLOSE
that the instinct is to care for that person, even when they’re talking about something that is challenging.” As the community works to improve handling difficult conversations, Molly and Joel have also worked to support the growth of affinity groups, which are groups for students who self-identify with a specific culture or group, such as Asian or Latino students. “These affinity groups are protected spaces designed to foster positive identity exploration,” Joel explained. Some situations call for difficult conversations, but others call for being surrounded by peers who understand your struggles and perspectives. Other groups advised by Molly and Joel are open to all students. “Spectrum is here to connect current events into our daily lives at Episcopal, and to have people talk about their thoughts on these topics,” said Judy Liu ’18, who is currently the club’s vice president. She has been involved with Spectrum since her freshman year. EHS will continue to foster an environment that encourages conversation and respect throughout the year, through programming days around events such as the election (faculty members facilitated watch spaces for all the presidential debates), Black History Month, and Ally Week.
“Spectrum is here to connect current events into our daily lives at Episcopal, and to have people talk about their thoughts on these topics.” — Judy Liu ’18, Spectrum Vice President
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In late October, the Office of Equity and Inclusion sponsored the CEO of a Republican polling and research firm for a “dinner and conversation” attended by nearly 40 students and faculty representing a range of positions on the political spectrum. “We invited Mr. Goeas because in many conversations with Republican students, we were hearing that they felt adrift, and in some cases upset, about where things are in politics right now,” Molly explained. “We also wanted someone who could give a sense of history and meaning to this current election.” The day after Election Day, the student body spent the afternoon listening to and unpacking information from Dr. Will Thomas ’82, parent to Sarah ’16 and Guy ’17, and the John and Catherine Angle Professor in the Humanities and Chair of History at the University of Nebraska. Dr. Thomas provided historical
context and perspective for the election. The students and faculty then put their work on managing difficult conversations to the test in small group discussions. Rev. G likens living in a healthy and diverse community to rocks in a rock tumbler in which friction agents are added to polish the stone. “As we’re all tumbling here together, issues of our lives come into the tumble with us. When we run into each other in those difficult conversations, pieces of the bricks chip off. If you’re able to be thoughtful about it, and people are able to give you context to process it, then there is power in that experience.”