What is Dignity Day at Penn State?
Dignity Day at Penn State is a University-wide initiative dedicated to promoting respect, empathy, and understanding among diverse groups. The event invites students, faculty, and staff to pause and reflect on what it means to treat one another with dignity, recognizing the inherent worth in every person, regardless of perspective or background.
At its core, Dignity Day encourages the Penn State community to move beyond the divisive language and behaviors that often dominate our culture. It challenges us to listen with compassion, to value each other’s stories, and to create a more inclusive environment where everyone feels seen and respected.
This year, the conversation around dignity extended into the evening with a Student Civil Discourse Workshop, where others and I learned how to apply dignity in everyday communication and dialogue.
The Student Civil Discourse Workshop: Learning to See Beyond Contempt
The workshop introduced students to a powerful framework called The Dignity Index, a tool designed to help people recognize and reduce contempt, one of the biggest barriers to healthy communication today. As the facilitators explained, contempt is more than just anger or disagreement—it is the belief that someone else’s opinions, experiences, or humanity are inferior to our own.
They described contempt as a cultural addiction, fueled by what they called the “outrage industrial complex.” In a world where attention often goes to the loudest or most polarizing voices, it’s easy to fall into patterns of ridicule, dismissal, or moral superiority. But as we discussed, if indignity tears us apart, dignity can put us back together again.
The solution is not to eliminate disagreement but to transform the way we approach it. Drawing on the work of Arthur Brooks, author of Love Your Enemies, and Donna Hicks, author of Dignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflict, the workshop explored how choosing dignity over contempt can shift both personal relationships and public discourse.
Dr. Donna Hicks is an associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University and a leading expert on the role of dignity in conflict resolution. She has worked extensively in international conflict zones—including the Middle East, Sri Lanka, Colombia, and Northern Ireland—facilitating dialogue and reconciliation efforts grounded in dignity. Dr. Hicks developed and leads dignity-based training programs for organizations, governments, and communities worldwide, helping people restore relationships and foster healing. She is also vice president of Ara Pacis, supporting dignity restoration projects in Syria and Libya. Dr. Hicks has taught conflict resolution at Harvard University, Clark University, and Columbia University and continues to consult globally on dignity leadership and peacebuilding.
Hicks defines dignity as the inherent worth we all have from birth, something that can never be taken away, only affirmed or violated by how we treat one another.
Understanding the Power of The Dignity Index
The Dignity Index, as we learned, isn’t just a score or set of rules; it’s a mirror. We were encouraged to reflect on our own habits and how they might unknowingly contribute to cycles of contempt. The facilitators described three key effects that often emerge when people engage deeply with the Index:
- The Electrifying Effect: When people first encounter The Dignity Index, it often sparks excitement and curiosity. It creates a hunger for more—for workshops, training sessions, and honest conversations about how to bring dignity into everyday life.
- The Agency Effect: As people begin to understand contempt’s role in division, they also realize they have the power to change it. The Index helps individuals see that they’re not just passive participants in a polarized culture; they’re capable of choosing dignity in their words and actions.
- The Mirror Effect: At first, it’s easy to see the Index as a tool for evaluating others, identifying who “lacks dignity” in their speech or behavior. But before long, it becomes a mirror, showing us our own blind spots and opportunities to grow.
One of the most memorable takeaways from the evening was what the facilitators called “the secret weakness of contempt.” They explained that contempt thrives when it’s invisible, when we don’t recognize it in ourselves. But once we start to see it, it becomes hard to keep using it. Awareness alone begins to dismantle its power.
Moving Forward with Dignity
By the end of the workshop, the room felt lighter; not because the conversations were easy, but because they were honest. Students left with a better understanding that dignity is not about agreement or politeness, it’s about seeing and affirming each other’s worth, even when we disagree.
About the Author
Sadie Wilhelm is a junior at Penn State, majoring in advertising with a minor in digital media trends and analytics—and also pursuing her Smeal business certificate. As a proud first-generation college student, Sadie is a member of Tri Alpha, the national honor society for first-gen students. She’s also deeply connected to the campus community through Cru, an on-campus Christian organization where she’s found an incredible support system.
When she’s not hitting the books, you can catch Sadie doodling on her iPad, spending quality time with friends, going on adventures, or living her best life powered by Dunkin’.