a profound effect<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u201cIt reminded me of that TV show \u2018Wife Swap,\u2019 because they went with a person who had a different perspective than them,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cIt was really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not everyone is a fan. Some of the people most entrenched in the nation\u2019s cultural battles see such dialogue programs as unproductive at best; others see them as dangerous forays into the enemy camp. As Greer puts it: \u201cRome is burning and we\u2019re over here talking about how we see things differently.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greer wants those students in the room but says they are often the toughest to reach. \u201cSome students are transformed,\u201d Greer said. Still, \u201cit\u2019s very hard to transform the campus culture. One program alone isn\u2019t going to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Administrators at Oberlin and Spring Arbor seem to disagree. Oberlin\u2019s Raimondo says the impact is visible. Faculty and administrators at both schools continue to forge strong ties. And she\u2019s watched students complete the Bridging the Gap program and step into campus leadership roles in student government and beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can very easily see this whole thing being an hour long special on 60 Minutes. It has the opportunity to be that impactful,\u201d Spring Arbor\u2019s Brown said. \u201cIt\u2019s a model of what\u2019s supposed to be happening in Washington, D.C.\u201d<\/p>\n
Monique Parsons is the managing editor of Interfaith America.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n