University launches USC Open Dialogue Project Student Advisory Board

As an anchor for Annenberg TV News and an editor at USC Annenberg Media, Charlotte Calmes has interviewed university faculty, students, community activists and politicians. She understands the need for freedom of expression and the exchange of thoughts — which is why she is so pleased to be a part of the new USC Open Dialogue Project’s Student Advisory Board.

“It’s important that every student, no matter where they’re coming from, is able to come here to USC and see themselves represented by some of their peers, but also to have their own ideas challenged, and to do so in a really healthy way,” said Calmes, a senior in the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Calmes is one of six students selected to serve on the advisory board. Students submitted applications last fall to serve on the board as part of USC President Beong-Soo Kim’s initiative to foster a campus culture where Trojans embrace and embody the principles of open discourse.

“The Student Advisory Board ensures that this initiative isn’t just top‑down; students are co‑designing programs, shaping events and modeling open dialogue for their peers,” said Neeraj Sood, director of the Open Dialogue Project and a professor at the USC Price School of Public Policy.

The initiative seeks to advance academic freedom, expression and discourse as essential values that foster intellectual courage, open-mindedness, thoughtful engagement, curiosity and a deep commitment to learning and discovery.

“The Open Dialogue Project goes to the very heart of USC’s academic mission,” said Kim, who met with the Student Advisory Board. “Without robust and constructive dialogue and debate, we will not benefit from differing viewpoints, our research and scholarship will suffer, and our students will be ill-equipped to succeed in the workplace. USC can and should serve as the global model for these academic values.”

Open Dialogue Project Student Advisory Board: Diverse viewpoints

The advisory board is offering Sood their perspective on programs and activities, contributing to the design of new programs for the project, and helping with student outreach and social media strategy for Open Dialogue Project events.

Senior Isabelle Sununu said that her biology and gerontology background prompted her to apply for the Student Advisory Board. “They were looking for diverse viewpoints, and, lucky enough, they really appreciated the viewpoint that I brought and appeared interested in what I brought to the table,” said Sununu, a student at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

For other students, like junior Michael Amato, the board is a chance to advance important discussions, regardless of topic. “Open dialogue is critical to crafting good policy,” said Amato, a USC Price public policy and law major who is also working on a master’s in public administration.

Amato is also a member of the USC Political Student Assembly and has facilitated conversations among different political groups on campus — some of which have attracted 200 attendees or more. “That was the initial experience that got me interested in how we can open up conversations that are hard to have, but are ultimately important,” he said.

The progress of open dialogue on campus

One common thread among these three board members: Each commented on how open dialogue has changed since they’ve been at USC.

“I think I walked into the university very naive about what open dialogue could look like,” Amato said. “But I think the university overall has gotten better about having harder conversations, and, you know, addressing topics.”

As a senior, Calmes said she’s seen how the emphasis on dialogue on campus has evolved. Having grown up in a small, rural community, Calmes said that USC showed her the strengths of diverse viewpoints.

After meeting with the president, Calmes, Sununu and Amato all said they felt a sense of optimism — as well as enthusiasm for upcoming Open Dialogue events. Sununu and Calmes will graduate in May, and Amato will graduate next year. However, even with their relatively limited time left at USC, the students were passionate about fostering openness at their alma mater.

“This has been a very positive step,” Calmes said. “USC is a very special place, so I want every incoming student to feel like they have a place for them on campus.”