Strengthening campus culture of care and building connection through Spartan Spirit Dinners

As campuses across the country continue to navigate rising concerns around bias and belonging, Spartan Spirit Dinners have offered students at Case Western Reserve University the opportunity to foster meaningful connections with their peers. Intentionally focused on creating spaces for students to come together across differences, the monthly dinners first launched in September 2025.

“Spartan Spirit Dinners are grounded in a simple idea: real community is built through honest conversation,” said Travis Apgar, vice president for student affairs. “We created these spaces so students can show up as their authentic selves—sharing their own experiences, learning from others and engaging across difference without fear of judgment. What’s been most powerful is the feedback—students are telling us they feel seen, heard and connected in ways that don’t often happen elsewhere. That’s how a stronger community takes shape.”

From the beginning, the dinners had a clear purpose: to create space for students to engage across differences, deepen understanding and build a campus culture grounded in respect and accountability. The initiative also aligns with broader efforts to address bias and foster a more inclusive campus environment, including support for the Ohio CAMPUS Act.

What began as a community-building initiative has evolved into a structured effort to address complex issues through storytelling, conversation and shared learning.

“The goal is not just dialogue for dialogue’s sake. Instead, the dinners are designed to build a sustainable culture of care, one where students feel seen, heard and responsible for one another,” said Arlet Wright, associate vice president for student and family connections. “By focusing on connection and shared accountability, the initiative moves beyond reactive responses to bias and toward proactive community-building rooted in understanding.”

Each dinner is co-hosted by different student organizations, offering unique perspectives and themes. Collaborations have included cultural and faith-based groups such as the Middle Eastern Cultural Association, Hillel and Chabad, IMPACT, the Black Student Union, Afro-Am and Catholic Newman Campus Ministry student organizations. These pairings help shape conversations that explore identity, faith, resilience and shared values.

“The Spartan Spirit Dinner was a great opportunity to bring people of different religious backgrounds together to reflect on the importance of community, both within and between our different faiths,” said fourth-year biology student Matthew Haimowitz. “The setting did well to facilitate open and meaningful multifaith dialogue. Truly, nothing brings people together like good food!”

Attendance at the dinners has grown from approximately 40 students to over 80 at their most recent gathering, signaling an increasing desire for spaces that foster connection among the Case Western Reserve community.

The upcoming April 7 dinner will serve as both a reflection on the progress made and a forward-looking conversation about how the campus can continue strengthening its culture of care, and how students can personally make an impact on those around them.

“At its core, Spartan Spirit Dinners represent more than a series of events,” said Wright. “They reflect an ongoing commitment to building a campus where connection, respect and shared responsibility are not just values but everyday practices.”