Dinner with 12 Strangers 2010 Recap

Dinner with 12 Strangers | View Photos

During Dinner with 12 Strangers, over 200 Northwestern students and 45 faculty and staff members experienced the slight apprehension and total exhilaration that comes with completely stepping outside of one’s boundaries.  The November 5th, 6th, and 7th events, during which over 45 alumni opened their homes (and kitchens) to the students, faculty, and staff, were a huge success.

“The combination of getting to meet different students, talk to inspiring alumni, and escape the campus food makes it a really popular event,” said Zahra Barnes, a student host for some of the dinners.

Student spots at the dinner are highly coveted. Besides the 217 students who participated, almost 300 were on the waitlist. Registration for the event filled within hours of its opening.   The attendees’ choice of where they go for dinner is limited only by their availability and allergies/dietary restrictions. Besides that, they are randomly assigned to the dinners.

The dinners’ structures varied with their different settings. One was cozily prepared around a dinner table in a downtown apartment while the hosts’ 19 month old son toddled around. Another was ten minutes from campus and buffet style, which was perfect for mingling with other guests. The conversations were also diverse. People talked about everything from the significance of the Rock to classic ancient Greek literature.

The success of the program is based on that unexpectedness; people must remove themselves from their comfort zones and relate to strangers whom they are bonded with only through the shared Northwestern experience. That communal experience means more than just taking classes at the same university. Years after they’ve left, alumni still feel a connection to Northwestern that encourages them to do something most people actively try to avoid: have strangers in their homes. Some alumni have even participated every year since the program began.

Northwestern has amazing alums, and with that comes constant talk of how fulfilling alumni-student relationships can be.  Dinner with 12 Strangers is proof that such a unique opportunity to bond and create new relationships is just another perk of being part of the Northwestern community.