Several prominent voices at Marquette have expressed hopes for a more diverse campus. For some, diversity means more people of color, and much has been done and is being done in Associate Provost for Diversity Keenan Grenell's office, in the Office of Student Development, and among student organizations to create a more racially diverse community that's aware of different ethnic cultures. For others, it is a greater diversity of political ideology or cultural expression sought among professors, students and campus speakers.

However, several voices raised at last semester's "Power of One" Student Leadership Summit and in other venues showed concern about another d-word: dialogue. How will greater diversity on campus become a growing asset to Marquette if we do not have a healthy network and culture of dialogue to receive it? Without the frequent practice of respectful, meaningful two-way conversation between the different individuals and groups represented here, how will our community as a whole be able to respect diversity, grow from it peacefully and appreciate it?

It all starts with intentional conversations that connect us to the community in which we live, learn, play, work and worship. Without a growing foundation of ongoing conversations across campus, it will be difficult to deepen our values and incorporate more diversity into WE ARE MARQUETTE. The burgeoning opportunities for at-your-fingertips connections via e-mail, blogs, Facebook, and cellphones are slick and awesome, but they are thin and ultimately divisive if they don't lead to face-to-face interaction that expresses important non-verbals and the respect that eye-contact demands.

One of the more educational and inspiring events I participated in last fall was the Crosswalks Dialogue on Supporting American Troops, co-sponsored by University Ministry and the Manresa Project. I joined 43 students and staff in small groups for an hour and a half of respectful, direct and heartfelt conversation on the relationship between supporting our troops and supporting their mission. The dialogue was intense not only because the issue was provocative, but even more so because the perspectives represented were so diverse and the stories shared were so frequently personal. We had ROTC students, peace activists, veterans, staff and several relatives or friends of military personnel listening intently to one another, responding from the heart, and feeling generally refreshed afterward despite the obvious disagreements that may have surfaced. More important than any resolution, we had each gained a greater understanding of each other as persons with a unique history. It goes without saying that our dialogue may have led those who were involved into supporting a soldier or taking some political action, but I think the most important aspect was the connections we made between members of Marquette who may not have connected otherwise, or at least not respectfully.

I hope that this semester, as studies ensue and "diversity" is worked for and interpreted in various ways on campus, you might infuse more authentic dialogue into the relationships you already have. Even better, form new ones through dialogue with those who think or associate differently than you.

At Marquette, it's the connections born from informal dialogue and participation in forums like Crosswalks that will give meaning to the diversity we have and will yet achieve.