Moved by recent terrorist attacks and nationwide, anti-violence protests, two University of Massachusetts Dartmouth faculty members knew students needed an outlet for expression and discussion.

The result was a two-day, campus-wide, teach-in event that attracted about 1,300 people on March 1 and 2. The event included a long list of guest speakers, seminars, artistic performances, and forums centered on social issues and bridging differences for both students and the greater community.

Organizer Jeannette Riley, also chairperson of the university's English department, said her hope for the event was that students would gain a new perspective on social issues by hearing the stories of their peers.

Cynthia Cummings, co-organizer and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, explained that in the wake of a 2016 terrorist attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, police violence, and the civil unrest surrounding the presidential election, the two began discussing a forum where students could openly discuss social issues. Initially, however, the idea didn’t garner enough support.

That changed on November 21, when the university hosted a campus forum for students to share their fears, concerns, and experiences about world events, Riley said. Riley and Cummings then planned a majority of the teach-in over winter break. They reached out to students and outside organizations for proposals, and soon had dozens of ideas, all of which they approved to be in the teach-in.

Speakers included Gail Fortes and Pam Pollock from YWCA New Bedford, who spoke about racism; Professor Chris Larkosh, who talked about LGBTQ+ inclusivity; and a multi-faith panel on religion and social justice.