"Personally, I'd prefer we focus on the theory behind magic," you say.
"Why's that?" Taylor asks.
You turn it around on Taylor. "What are your goals for the symposium?"
Taylor considers that. "My ultimate goal is to have a symposium that lets us share techniques and ideas, that fosters a large community."
"Then start with theory," you say. "Theory informs modern pattern research. If we influence that, then we'll have a downstream effect on practical experimentation."
"That's not necessarily true," Darcy says.
Taylor taps one iridescent blue nail on the table. "No, Bomomsay Clestenrogo's right. We can have an outsized impact working with theorists. Repro's had recent breakthroughs that I'd love to share with other practitioners."
"Then it's settled!" you say.
From Darcy's expression, it's not settled for her, but she doesn't say anything further.
Success!
Now that you've settled on the symposium focus, the three of you work on clarifying and writing down the symposium's mission. You incorporate Taylor's interest in fostering a community along with the goal of having talks about theoretical topics.
At the end of the hour, Taylor pushes back from the table. "I have to run. Before I leave, we need to decide what we'll accomplish before our next meeting."
"Leave that to me and Bomomsay Clestenrogo," Darcy says. "We'll come up with a list of to-dos and divide them between us."
Taylor stands. "Email that to me, then, and let me know which ones I should work on."
That's an awful idea. Darcy had a tendency to let you and Manish do more than your fair share of work for group projects. And that was when you and Darcy got along. Now that she's trying to become chair, and already has more standing in the department than you? You'd get all the work, and she'd get all the credit.