Bridging the Gap

By Grace Collins '22, June 3, 2021

Collaborative course with Houghton College teaches students to communicate despite divisive viewpoints.

Screenshot of the Bridging the Gap course participants

The three-week course brought together students from IC and Houghton College.

At the end of the Spring 2021 semester, a select group of Ithaca College students participated in an experiential course that taught them to communicate and collaborate with peers who have opposing religious beliefs and sociopolitical values.

The course, titled “Bridging the Gap: Dialogue Across Difference” ran from May 17 to June 3 and was brought to Ithaca College by Hierald Osorto, executive director for student equity and belonging and director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life at Ithaca College. The Bridging the Gap initiative, founded by Simon Greer, was first piloted in a collaboration between Oberlin College and Spring Arbor University. It has since grown to include six schools. Each cohort is facilitated by an expert trainer from Bridging the Gap and two teaching assistants that Osorto has worked with throughout the course.

“We’re bringing in two sets of students to engage with one another on questions of identity, on questions of dialogue, on questions of difficulty, on questions around issues that are not often addressed. It might sound easy, but it's really hard work.”

Hierald Osorto, executive director for student equity and belonging and director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life

IC students were joined by students from Houghton College, a Christian liberal arts school in Caneadea, New York, for three weeks of interactive and extensive dialogue surrounding the divisive topic of immigration in the United States. Students were expected to be willing to fully engage in the course discussions, share their viewpoints and listen to views of people with whom they didn’t necessarily agree.

“We’re bringing in two sets of students to engage with one another on questions of identity, on questions of dialogue, on questions of difficulty, on questions around issues that are not often addressed. We’re also curious about how people talk about their own religious spiritual identities to frame their conversations around difficult topics,” said Osorto. “It might sound easy, but it's really hard work.”

Coursework included self-reflection, facilitated discussions in pairs and groups, engagement with guest speakers representing different aspects of immigration, and presentations. While the course was held remotely, students had access to a variety of resources throughout the term. Including a course facilitator from Bridging the Gap who supported students through challenging conversations, and a box of props and tools like “Agree/Disagree” flags.

“The goal isn’t to just find common ground. This is about knowing how to navigate conflict, how to navigate tension, and anger and all of the emotions that come in with differences.”

Hierald Osorto

Funding for the class, including course materials and a $250 stipend for participants, comes from a grant from the Bridging the Gap initiative.

“There was a lot of intentional thoughtfulness behind this. It was a really powerful course that impacted the students who participated in it,” Osorto said.

Osorto believes the skills developed in the course will not only be beneficial to the students participating, but to the Ithaca College community as a whole.

“The goal isn’t to just find common ground,” said Osorto. “This is about knowing how to navigate conflict, how to navigate tension, and anger and all of the emotions that come in with differences. In using this model, I think it will help us have better ways of thinking about how to adapt it and utilize these things at Ithaca College. Whenever there's high tension, how do you talk to one from a place of care and compassion and seeing one another's humanity?”