Take the Other to Lunch

Take “The Other” to Lunch Step 1: Pre-journal: “People who think ______ are ______” (Fill in all your preconceived notions or stereotypes here. Feel free to vent. Get it out now.) Step 2: Take “the Other” to lunch. Or dinner. Or Starbucks. Or just stay on campus one day. Your call. Just make sure that a.) neither of you is uncomfortable—you can bring others to be “safe”!—and b.) you take a picture together to prove it happened!  This is fun. Go out on a limb here! Step 3: Talk and listen. Give each person a chance to talk truly and deeply about their beliefs. Religion may come up. Gender may come up. Things may make you angry or frustrated, but that’s okay. Your job is to listen—really listen to them—with an open mind.

“The Other” cont. Step 4: Once both sides have had a chance to go, talk about what you both have in common relative to the topic. Maybe you’re both religious in your own way. Maybe you both have family members who are in the military. Find common ground. Step 5: Journal: Half a page—what did you learn from this? Were you surprised? Did you find yourself rethinking your opinion, either of the subject or of the “other”? What did you have in common that you didn’t know about before? EVERYTHING IS DUE TUESDAY (CANVAS)!