From the Isom Center Report: Today, it has perhaps never been more challenging to have difficult conversations. In the United States, we seem more divided than ever, and rather than engaging in important civic debate, folks retreat into silos of like-minded individuals and vilify their opponents as traitors or fools or animals. Even among academics, who value careful inquiry, compelling evidence, and incisive analysis, “gotcha” culture sometimes leads to embarrassing twitter wars and damaging “soundbite” oversimplification of important cultural issues. Universities are essential to flourishing democratic culture, embodying free inquiry, skeptical testing of theories, and the fearless pursuit of new knowledge. Too often, in today’s climate, universities are risk-averse, shying away from anything that might lead outside groups to target them and embarrass them through social media. Bland messages about “diversity” and “civic engagement” and “excellence,” carefully tested by university communications departments, predominate.

In such an environment, Gender Studies has never been more important. The conversations we foster, the questions we encourage, the programs we organize, the inclusive spaces we enable;—all this stems from our embrace of the difficult. Our students, our colleagues, our community, inspire us and challenge us, and we work every day to make a world that nurtures all its citizens. We will continue to ask the hard questions, propose what is essential, not simply expedient, and meet the challenges of our time with moxie and audacity and humor, just as our feminist and queer predecessors met theirs.”

Also at this time last year, Dr. Harker began to have a series of lunches with Rev. J.D. Shaw, a local Baptist minister. Rev Shaw had reached out to her after reading about Violet Valley Bookstore; he wanted to model how to build relationships with those who have different beliefs. From these luncheons, came two interfaith dialogue “summits” discussing faith, religion, and LGBTQ acceptance. Dr. Harker and Reverend Shaw have forged a friendship that seems impossible in our current political environment, one that respects each other’s differences and depends upon shared commitment to integrity and a community that nurtures all of our citizens.

Through their continued conversations, Reverend Shaw came up with a new project, Help Me Understand: Oxford, a podcast that tackles a variety of issues of the day in connection with religion and faith. Part of what makes their conversations unique is much like Robert Frost’s poem: they both came from similar, highly religious backgrounds, but their paths diverged during their adulthood. Now, they use their childhood lessons and interest in ideas and learning to tackle important cultural issues through civil, informed discussions. Ultimately, they hope to “continue to ask the hard questions, propose what is essential, not simply expedient, and meet the challenges of our time with moxie and audacity and humor.”’