This discussion was framed around two articles. Dr. Sengstock s presentation began with an update of the Chaldean community from her early article. Originally, Sengstock saw the potential for divisions within the community, based on religious, language and economic issues. However, despite these potential difficulties, the community still seems close knit and anything but divisive. The parishes have made consistent efforts to remain part of a unified religious community and the Chaldeans have developed a secular identity to supplement the primarily religious identity that characterized their early immigration patterns.
Conflict is common, however, most conflict remains within the community.
With such a rich resource available for both information and commentary on the Chaldean community, most of the discussion was based on increasing an understanding of the Chaldean community. Questions ranged from a discussion of the effects of changing socio-economic status to the perspectives of Chaldeans on public education. Overall, the discussion was varied and cross-disciplinary, with faculty, student and staff participants from a variety of colleges and departments on campus and off.