A Typical Session

Assembling and eating:

When people arrive at a "What Matters to Me and Why" session shortly before or at noon on a particular Wednesday, they will find a light lunch waiting for them if they haven't brought their own lunch along. Before the session itself begins, participants will have a chance to get acquainted and visit informally. Members of the WMMW Committee will welcome people and help them feel comfortable.

Structure:

At noon or shortly thereafter, the Dean of Religious Life will welcome people and briefly orient them to the series. The WMMW Committee member hosting the session will introduce the presenter, who will speak for about twenty minutes. After that (or amidst the presentation, if the speaker so chooses) others may raise questions or make comments. By the time the session draws to a close at 12:50, a lively discussion should be taking place. At that point, those who need to go off to a 1:00 p.m. class will leave, and others can linger to speak personally with the speaker and one another.

Content:

Content will vary from speaker to speaker, but on the whole speakers are encouraged to approach even professional matters of teaching and research from a personal direction. Similarly, the sorts of questions asked and ensuing discussion will vary from session to session. However people are encouraged to frame their questions and comments in a direct, unguarded--although also respectful-way.

Location and ambiance:

All presentations will take place at Ground Zero Coffee House. This is not a classroom, underlining the fact that learning takes place outside the formal classroom as much as inside it.

In all cases, the ambiance will be serious but not formal, earnest but not overbearing.