Isabelle Camoin ’26

by Isabelle Camoin ’26 on October 23, 2025

Public Discourse on D.I.D. Walls

Inspired by the Phi Beta Kappa lecture shared by Dr. Shannon Jackson, “Arts, Democracy and The Public Life,” the Dialogue, Inclusion, and Democracy Wall (D.I.D.) wall in Slavin (next to the line for Dunkin’) asked the student body: “How can art be an agent for social change?” Although the talk was a month ago, it is worth discussing the responses that were written to this question. 

For context, the D.I.D. Walls on campus are public boards meant to allow for democratic practices and engagement in meaningful public dialogue. The boards are placed in different academic buildings and facilitated by D.I.D. Lab fellows. Spearheaded by Dr. Nicholas Longo and a team of students, the Providence College campus saw its first D.I.D. Wall in 2018, a chalkboard in Feinstein on the third floor. Since then, more spaces have been approved and new additions have been implemented in Moore Hall, SOWA, the Slavin Center, and the Mondor School of Nursing and Health Sciences. If you are ever in these buildings, you have probably seen these whiteboards, which pose questions that invite students to think about and answer anonymously. 

Returning to the answers seen on the Slavin Center D.I.D. Wall, a plethora of answers were seen. Insightful thoughts such as: “Art is a way to express yourself, likes and dislikes. Voicing your opinion through art is uniquely beautiful,” “Art is the unveiling of the Truth through beauty. Therefore, if art is held to low standards, Truth skewed” “Art can speak volumes that words sometimes can’t,” “Art bridges all boundaries,” “Brings people together who otherwise wouldn’t have felt connected.” These profound responses are demonstrative of members of our communities’ thoughts and feelings towards the significant role art can play in our society. These statements are the voices of the Providence College community. 

A part of the role of the walls is to address and observe our community’s capacity to engage in meaningful dialogue in a public space. When thinking about this, it is interesting to consider other statements that were not as profound, such as: “Artsy Fartsy”! and “6-7 is Art.” Recently, many responses have contained the inclusion of “6 7,” a permeating meme that seems to have intervened in many young adults’ vocabulary. It seems here that pop culture has interfered with members of the community’s ability to participate in meaningful discourse. Given that the walls are a space for free expression, the space cultivates the opportunity for students to bridge connections through language and contemplate the questions that are posed.