[2483] in UA Exec
Re: World Cafe Idea
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Andy Trattner)
Mon May 16 07:49:09 2016
Reply-To: trattner@mit.edu
In-Reply-To: <CALZVVqG+Q=MYkHHmyJ1DGWmQ+XZ+mvweDcGVt6Lpu+NdftByOQ@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 May 2016 07:49:04 -0400
From: Andy Trattner <trattner@mit.edu>
To: Alice Zielinski <alicez@mit.edu>
Cc: Daysi N Gomez <gomezd@mit.edu>, Sally Susnowitz <susnowit@mit.edu>,
"ua-exec@mit.edu" <ua-exec@mit.edu>
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Hi Alice,
That is great feedback! I totally agree 100%, and it sounds super useful to
require informed attendance (and some briefing on the importance of being
informed) so that these participants can better discuss and also bring
discussion back into their living groups and communities, decrease apathy,
etc. Perhaps the participants could be limited to the UA and a few
applicants or invitees with demonstrated background.
I often complain about event-based mentality at MIT, but events definitely
have the potential to do a lot of good when thoughtfully executed.
Re-reading my initial email, I want to clarify that this idea is perhaps
most useful in supplementing existing events, some of which are more
informative or introductory by design, which is totally necessary as well
(I learn a lot at each event I go to!).
I forgot to mention one of the main motivators was the Student Leadership
Summit (see below) which occurred this past semester. In my mind, this
event attempted to span both the introductory and outcome-based mindset,
and I think it was unsuccessful with the latter. It was not clear how the
selection process worked, students that attended the event found themselves
frustratingly assigned to topic areas outside of their focus, and the
format seemed to bring about ideas which are perhaps decent feedback to
top-level administrators, but perhaps never make it to the actionable stage
with the concerned parties at lower levels. I got the sense that the result
was a bunch of notes that vague people might look up maybe sometime in the
future.
The event succeeded in educating the participants on basic things that
students should perhaps know, such as administrative structure
<http://orgchart.mit.edu/>. It (somewhat) demonstrated that the
administration is interested in doing things with students and for
students, definitely a nice counterpoint to some of the stigma and
silliness that tends to float about the student body with respect to the
administration. The missing link is exactly what Alice points out, to be
mindful of how to obtain a positive, useful direction forward. This is an
extremely difficult problem, but perhaps this is something we students can
help provide perspective on.
I sent this email A. to stimulate discussion about this hard topic (yay
Alice!) and B. to seek out students interested in helping guide the event.
Both these are difficult things to do, but perhaps the only involvement
necessary for B. is to do A. and bring some cohesive suggestions on how to
best create productive action to the Chancellor's office, and they can
arrange the whole thing like the Summit below!
In addition to lovely discussion, does anyone have suggestions on who might
be good to involve in this? Possibly to attempt the "world cafe" for next
fall semester?
Looking forward to hearing all of your thoughts.
__________
*EMAIL SENT FEB 17, 2016:*
I am writing to invite you to attend the 2016 Student Leadership Summit on
Friday, February 26. This annual summit provides an opportunity for Dean
for Student Life Chris Colombo, Dean for Undergraduate Education Denny
Freeman, and me to build a collaborative working relationship with student
leaders around campus community needs and other issues affecting the MIT
student body.
More specifically, the summit allows us to:
- Meet one another and learn about the goals and challenges faced by all
participants
- Educate students about MIT administrative processes and student
governance processes for overall decision-making
- Identify opportunities and ways that students can work with the
administration and with each other during the academic year
- Brainstorm how we might work on specific challenges and opportunities
in the MIT residential experience
Please note that this event is by invitation only. You were nominated by an
MIT staff member to participate because of your demonstrated commitment to
and potential for leadership. We expect about 30 undergraduate students to
attend.
The summit will run from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM in the Mezzanine Lounge
(W20-307) in the Student Center, with lunch.
Please respond to this email with your attendance plans by noon on
Thursday, February 18. We look forward to engaging in this important
discussion with you.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Barnhart
Chancellor
__________
Happy Finals!
Cheers,
Andy
_____
*availability*
<https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=andtratt%40gmail.com&ctz=America/New_York>
On Sun, May 15, 2016 at 11:49 PM, Alice Zielinski <alicez@mit.edu> wrote:
> Hi Andy,
>
> I just wanted to drop a quick note about this thought based on my
> experiences with student-admin discussions: I like the idea and likewise
> believe that it can be fruitful. My only concern would be ensuring that the
> students in attendance are up to date on policy and have a foundational
> understanding of how policy and influencing operations works. Otherwise,
> this could easily become a round table event that is very introductory in
> the sense that due to the massive amount of onboarding required to bring a
> student to the level of understanding that is conducive
> to influencing change, no actual forward work or thinking would get done.
> If the goal would be to just garner feedback of varying quality and/or
> interact with students without a real sense of expecting direct outcomes,
> then the background understanding of the students wouldn't matter so much.
> I think it's just something to consider and of which to be mindful.
>
> Best,
> Alice
>
>
> On Sunday, May 15, 2016, Andy Trattner <trattner@mit.edu> wrote:
>
>> Hi Daysi,
>>
>> I forgot to follow up with you on our conversation of a couple weeks ago.
>> I was speaking with Sally (cc'd), and we came to this awesome "world cafe"
>> idea based on what Sally had done previously as head of the Public Service
>> Center.
>>
>> There are administrators who feel like they lack student feedback or
>> simply don't know how to obtain a broader perspective than perhaps what
>> Institute committee members feed them or perhaps just would like more
>> opportunities to interact with students. There are also students who do not
>> have time nor inclination to join committees or lobby student leaders to
>> convey their perspectives (and perhaps tend to complain after a policy is
>> announced rather than trying to influence its course).
>>
>> The idea to help these people get in touch is to bring ~30 students and
>> ~30 administrators together for a 3-course dinner where each course
>> requires a seat change and possibly a guiding discussion question for each
>> table. Perhaps each participant would get 10 cards with name and email so
>> that if a discussion is particularly fruitful, the members can follow up
>> with one another by exchanging contact cards. Sally mentioned that she
>> could possibly help with the venue and food, and it seems that this would
>> not be too hard to handle once per semester in terms of just inviting
>> people to a date and time, and polling for some questions. Perhaps UA
>> members could use it as a sort of banquet or general hang-out.
>>
>> Not sure if this description makes sense; feel free to call or we can get
>> coffee and chat about it. I see it primarily as an opportunity to get more
>> actionable feedback and better relations among the student body and
>> administrators/faculty than current events such as the mental health forums
>> or random dinners with admins held recently in dorms. These tend to be more
>> confrontational or just descriptive as opposed to productive and helping to
>> envision the future. Do you have any thoughts or additional things you
>> might see this being useful for?
>>
>> Sally may want to add some details or perspective, but I guess the main
>> question is, who do you think would be the best person on the UA side to
>> help make this happen?
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Andy
>> 262-314-4291
>> _____
>> *availability*
>> <https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=andtratt%40gmail.com&ctz=America/New_York>
>>
>>
>
> --
> Sent from my mobile. Please pardon brevity and typos.
>
> Alice M. Zielinski
> Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
> Massachusetts Institute of Technology '16
> alicez@mit.edu
>
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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div>Hi Alice,</div><div><br></div>That is great feedback!=
I totally agree 100%, and it sounds super useful to require informed atten=
dance (and some briefing on the importance of being informed) so that these=
participants can better discuss and also bring discussion back into their =
living groups and communities, decrease apathy, etc. Perhaps the participan=
ts could be limited to the UA and a few applicants or invitees with demonst=
rated background.=C2=A0<div><br></div><div>I often complain about event-bas=
ed mentality at MIT, but events definitely have the potential to do a lot o=
f good when thoughtfully executed. Re-reading my initial email, I want to c=
larify that this idea is perhaps most useful in supplementing existing even=
ts, some of which are more informative or introductory by design, which is =
totally necessary as well (I learn a lot at each event I go to!).=C2=A0</di=
v><div><br></div><div>I forgot to mention one of the main motivators was th=
e Student Leadership Summit (see below) which occurred this past semester. =
In my mind, this event attempted to span both the introductory and outcome-=
based mindset, and I think it was unsuccessful with the latter. It was not =
clear how the selection process worked, students that attended the event fo=
und themselves frustratingly assigned to topic areas outside of their focus=
, and the format seemed to bring about ideas which are perhaps decent feedb=
ack to top-level administrators, but perhaps never make it to the actionabl=
e stage with the concerned parties at lower levels. I got the sense that th=
e result was a bunch of notes that vague people might look up maybe sometim=
e in the future.</div><div><br></div><div>The event succeeded in educating =
the participants on basic things that students should perhaps know, such as=
<a href=3D"http://orgchart.mit.edu/">administrative structure</a>. It (som=
ewhat) demonstrated that the administration is interested in doing things w=
ith students and for students, definitely a nice counterpoint to some of th=
e stigma and silliness that tends to float about the student body with resp=
ect to the administration.=C2=A0The missing link is exactly what Alice poin=
ts out, to be mindful of how to obtain a positive, useful direction forward=
. This is an extremely difficult problem, but perhaps this is something we =
students can help provide perspective on.</div><div><br></div><div>I sent t=
his email A. to stimulate discussion about this hard topic (yay Alice!) and=
B. to seek out students interested in helping guide the event. Both these =
are difficult things to do, but perhaps the only involvement necessary for =
B. is to do A. and bring some cohesive suggestions on how to best create pr=
oductive action to the Chancellor's office, and they can arrange the wh=
ole thing like the Summit below!</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to lo=
vely discussion, does anyone have suggestions on who might be good to invol=
ve in this? Possibly to attempt the "world cafe" for next fall se=
mester?</div><div><br></div><div>Looking forward to hearing all of your tho=
ughts.</div><div><br></div><div><div><br></div><div>__________</div><div><s=
pan style=3D"font-size:12.8px"><i>EMAIL SENT FEB 17, 2016:</i></span></div>=
<div><span style=3D"font-size:12.8px"><i><br></i></span></div><div><div sty=
le=3D"font-size:12.8px">I am writing to invite you to attend the 2016 Stude=
nt Leadership Summit on Friday, February 26. This annual summit provides an=
opportunity for Dean for Student Life Chris Colombo, Dean for Undergraduat=
e Education Denny Freeman, and me to build a collaborative working relation=
ship with student leaders around campus community needs and other issues af=
fecting the MIT student body.</div><div style=3D"font-size:12.8px">=C2=A0</=
div><div style=3D"font-size:12.8px">More specifically, the summit allows us=
to:</div><ul style=3D"font-size:12.8px"><li style=3D"margin-left:15px;marg=
in-bottom:10px">Meet one another and learn about the goals and challenges f=
aced by all participants</li><li style=3D"margin-left:15px;margin-bottom:10=
px">Educate students about MIT administrative processes and student governa=
nce processes for overall decision-making</li><li style=3D"margin-left:15px=
;margin-bottom:10px">Identify opportunities and ways that students can work=
with the administration and with each other during the academic year</li><=
li style=3D"margin-left:15px;margin-bottom:10px">Brainstorm how we might wo=
rk on specific challenges and opportunities in the MIT residential experien=
ce</li></ul><div style=3D"font-size:12.8px">Please note that this event is =
by invitation only. You were nominated by an MIT staff member to participat=
e because of your demonstrated commitment to and potential for leadership. =
We expect about 30 undergraduate students to attend.</div><div style=3D"fon=
t-size:12.8px">=C2=A0</div><div style=3D"font-size:12.8px">The summit will =
run from=C2=A0<span><span>10:30 AM to 2:00 PM</span></span>=C2=A0in the Mez=
zanine Lounge (W20-307) in the Student Center, with lunch.</div><div style=
=3D"font-size:12.8px">=C2=A0</div><div style=3D"font-size:12.8px">Please re=
spond to this email with your attendance plans by=C2=A0<span><span>noon</sp=
an></span>=C2=A0on Thursday, February 18. We look forward to engaging in th=
is important discussion with you.</div><div style=3D"font-size:12.8px">=C2=
=A0</div><div style=3D"font-size:12.8px">Sincerely,</div><div style=3D"font=
-size:12.8px">=C2=A0</div><div style=3D"font-size:12.8px">Cynthia Barnhart<=
/div><div style=3D"font-size:12.8px">Chancellor<br></div></div><div>_______=
___</div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra">Ha=
ppy Finals!</div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_e=
xtra"><div><div><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><di=
v dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=
=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><font color=3D"#000000">Cheers,</font></div>=
<div><font color=3D"#000000">Andy</font></div><div style=3D"text-align:righ=
t"><font color=3D"#000000">_____</font></div><div style=3D"text-align:right=
"><a href=3D"https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=3Dandtratt%40gm=
ail.com&ctz=3DAmerica/New_York" style=3D"font-size:12.8px" target=3D"_b=
lank"><font size=3D"1"><i>availability</i></font></a><font color=3D"#999999=
" size=3D"1"><br></font></div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div=
></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Sun, May 15, 2016 at 11:49 PM, Alice Ziel=
inski <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:alicez@mit.edu" target=3D"_bl=
ank">alicez@mit.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quo=
te" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-sty=
le:solid;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Hi Andy,<div>=
<br></div><div>I just wanted to drop a quick note about this thought based =
on my experiences with student-admin discussions: I like the idea and likew=
ise believe that it can be fruitful. My only concern would be ensuring that=
the students in attendance are up to date on policy and have a foundationa=
l understanding of how policy and=C2=A0influencing operations works. Otherw=
ise, this could easily become a round table event that is very introductory=
in the sense that=C2=A0due to the massive amount of onboarding required to=
bring a student=C2=A0to the=C2=A0level of understanding that is conducive =
to=C2=A0influencing=C2=A0change, no actual forward work or thinking would g=
et done. If the goal would be to just garner=C2=A0feedback of varying quali=
ty=C2=A0and/or interact with students without a real sense of expecting dir=
ect=C2=A0outcomes, then the background understanding of the students wouldn=
't matter so much. I think it's just something to consider and of w=
hich to be mindful.</div><div><br></div><div>Best,</div><div>Alice<div><div=
><br><br>On Sunday, May 15, 2016, Andy Trattner <<a href=3D"mailto:tratt=
ner@mit.edu" target=3D"_blank">trattner@mit.edu</a>> wrote:<br><blockquo=
te class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-widt=
h:1px;border-left-style:solid;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);padding-le=
ft:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi Daysi,<div><br></div><div>I forgot to follow up=
with you on our conversation of a couple weeks ago. I was speaking with Sa=
lly (cc'd), and we came to this awesome "world cafe" idea bas=
ed on what Sally had done previously as head of the Public Service Center.<=
/div><div><br></div><div>There are administrators who feel like they lack s=
tudent feedback or simply don't know how to obtain a broader perspectiv=
e than perhaps what Institute committee members feed them or perhaps just w=
ould like more opportunities to interact with students. There are also stud=
ents who do not have time nor inclination to join committees or lobby stude=
nt leaders to convey their perspectives (and perhaps tend to complain after=
a policy is announced rather than trying to influence its course).=C2=A0</=
div><div><br></div><div>The idea to help these people get in touch is to br=
ing ~30 students and ~30 administrators together for a 3-course dinner wher=
e each course requires a seat change and possibly a guiding discussion ques=
tion for each table. Perhaps each participant would get 10 cards with name =
and email so that if a discussion is particularly fruitful, the members can=
follow up with one another by exchanging contact cards. Sally mentioned th=
at she could possibly help with the venue and food, and it seems that this =
would not be too hard to handle once per semester in terms of just inviting=
people to a date and time, and polling for some questions. Perhaps UA memb=
ers could use it as a sort of banquet or general hang-out.</div><div><br></=
div><div>Not sure if this description makes sense; feel free to call or we =
can get coffee and chat about it. I see it primarily as an opportunity to g=
et more actionable feedback and better relations among the student body and=
administrators/faculty than current events such as the mental health forum=
s or random dinners with admins held recently in dorms. These tend to be mo=
re confrontational or just descriptive as opposed to productive and helping=
to envision the future. Do you have any thoughts or additional things you =
might see this being useful for?</div><div><br></div><div>Sally may want to=
add some details or perspective, but I guess the main question is, who do =
you think would be the best person on the UA side to help make this happen?=
</div><div><br clear=3D"all"><div><div><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div dir=3D"lt=
r"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div=
dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><font color=3D"#000000"=
>Cheers,</font></div><div><font color=3D"#000000">Andy</font></div><div><fo=
nt color=3D"#000000"><a href=3D"tel:262-314-4291" value=3D"+12623144291" ta=
rget=3D"_blank">262-314-4291</a></font></div><div style=3D"text-align:right=
"><font color=3D"#000000">_____</font></div><div style=3D"text-align:right"=
><a href=3D"https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=3Dandtratt%40gma=
il.com&ctz=3DAmerica/New_York" style=3D"font-size:12.8px" target=3D"_bl=
ank"><font size=3D"1"><i>availability</i></font></a><font color=3D"#999999"=
size=3D"1"><br></font></div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>=
</div></div></div></div></div>
</div></div>
</blockquote></div></div></div><span><font color=3D"#888888"><br><br>-- <br=
>Sent from my mobile. Please pardon brevity and typos.<p>Alice M. Zielinski=
<br>Electrical Engineering & Computer Science<br>Massachusetts Institut=
e of Technology '16<br><a href=3D"mailto:alicez@mit.edu" target=3D"_bla=
nk">alicez@mit.edu</a><br></p>
</font></span></blockquote></div><br></div></div></div>
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