Student Council passed a resolution yesterday night strongly endorsing the Sept. 24 Day of Dialogue.
The event, specifically as "Day of Dialogue: Toward a Caring Community," aims to continue the conversation sparked by Yeardley Love's death in May and "provide an opportunity for open, honest discussion about who we are -- our strengths, our shortcomings, and our individual responsibility as members of this and other, larger communities," University President Teresa A. Sullivan stated in an e-mail sent to the University community Monday night. The event's goal is to involve the entire University in a discussion of how to build community, how to prevent violence and how to adopt best practices for ensuring safety on Grounds and beyond, Sullivan told the Faculty Senate at its meeting Monday.
The event will showcase faculty members who will facilitate discussions and guide students through conversations about seemingly touchy topics. In addition, the event will feature live arts performances, a resource fair and a closing speaker.
Student Council's executive board, representative body and members of the various presidential cabinets will aid in staffing and participating in the day's events.
Dan Morrison, Council's director of University relations, said the Day of Dialogue has the potential to be one of the greatest examples of cooperation among the University's various constituents.
"I think this is really one of the first opportunities that we've had where every single hand at the University has played a role in putting this together," Morrison said. "I hope students take advantage of it because this will probably one of the biggest events that they'll see possibly at their time here in terms of cohesion between administration officials, students and also student organizations."
Council President Colin Hood said it is important to have many different individuals represented at the event, and Council is aiding in this effort by consolidating its resources to reach out to the student body.
"I think it's really important that we're having conversations and that we have as many different parts of the community there as possible," Hood said. "We're trying to reach out to every student and to invite every student."
Hood also emphasized that this is not solely a Student Council effort.
"It's been a coalition," Hood said. "Student Council has been one of the many factors that's been working together in this event. We're assisting in staffing and trying to fulfill those needs that the event's gonna need."
Moreover, Hood noted that although classes will not be canceled for the Day of Dialogue, Sullivan has asked faculty members to make the day a part of the curriculum by encouraging students to attend the events and using the day as a subject for in-class discussion.
"It's a really important event," Hood said. "A lot of people will be watching from outside the Charlottesville community and beyond"
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