Let's Be Frank About Loneliness: Could Honesty Help?

In a world that’s supposedly more connected than ever, our generation is also one of the loneliest. We are constantly glued to screens, and while they promise connection, they often pull us further away from real human interaction. This growing loneliness, and what’s causing it, is something we believe is worth paying attention to and addressing.

Our response to this issue centers on honest connection. As a generation, we’ve become incredibly good at curating an image. We know how to use filters, shape our online presence, and manage how we are perceived. But the version of ourselves we put online often does not fully reflect who we actually are. Over time, this creates a gap between how others see us and how we experience ourselves. Our goal is to help close that gap by creating space for people to show up honestly.

We want to prioritize deeper and more genuine connections as a way to push back against the loneliness so many people our age feel. This matters because social media and screens tend to encourage passive interaction rather than meaningful connection. By challenging that norm, we hope to remind people of the value of being present with one another. Even small moments of real connection can make a difference.

So the question becomes, how do we actually do this? Our answer is simple: by creating a space where people can be frank with each other. Enter the hot dog party.

The Imagine We Could Be Frank With Each Other Hot Dog Party will take place on campus in a familiar student space that is transformed into an environment that encourages openness and connection. The setting is intentionally casual and designed to be somewhere students already feel comfortable walking into without pressure.

Free hot dogs help bring people together, but the real goal is to create a space where people want to stay. Shared tables make it easy to talk, and optional prompt cards placed around the area offer gentle conversation starters. There is no pressure to participate in any specific way, and students can engage at their own pace.

There is no formal agenda; rather, connection happens naturally as people eat, talk, and listen. By removing expectations to perform socially or academically, the event creates room for authenticity.

In a campus culture that can often feel fast-paced and isolating, this event is meant to be a pause. It is a reminder that an honest connection does not require anything complicated. Sometimes all it takes is shared space, simple food, and a willingness to be real.