Searching for Common Ground
November 30, 2021
By Lindsay Boudreau
Diversity is one of BU’s greatest assets. The student body is composed of people from all over the world with different backgrounds, skill sets, and opinions. But, while this is a strength for the University, it’s not always easy for students to connect with each other. When there are so many differences between people, we tend to dwell on them instead of first attempting to understand each other. This is why BU has the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground (HTC). Located at 808 Commonwealth Ave, the center’s mission (according to its website) is for BU students to “learn about themselves and one another…through intellectual discourse, active listening, and friendship.”
The HTC has several casual discussion programs designed to engage students in thoughtful conversation while, frankly, relaxing. They host Tea Time, where students can go to the center, drink tea, eat snacks, color, and talk about whatever comes to mind. Creating a friendly space on campus separate from academics or specific clubs allows people to connect in more informal settings through the power of words (and fun). This is open to all students—just like Recess, a program where students can go to play board games, listen to music, and meet new people every weekday from 12pm-1pm. The Howard Thurman Center’s laidback programs help students to talk and enjoy themselves without having to worry about certain topics or assignments.
The HTC also has several options for more academic and political discussions if you’re looking for something a bit more focused and serious. In Coffee and Conversation, Fridays from 3-5pm, students and faculty get together to talk about current events and controversial opinions. The purpose is to understand your own patterns of thought, and those of others, so everyone involved can learn from each other. This program encourages both open-mindedness and your own convictions. The Student-Faculty Forum also entails conversations between students and faculty members about the major issues and events that are going on in real time.
With a school like BU, where, as of Fall 2020, we have over 10,600 international students, students bring their diverse experiences to campus with them. And even domestically, American students are still very much prone to disagree with each other about silly topics, like whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza, and on political topics like how much power the government should have over its people. The only way to connect with the fellow students that you disagree with is to actually talk with them. Conversation is crucial to understanding other cultures, perspectives, and opinions, and being open to conversation means that you are willing to learn. The Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground provides students (and faculty) with a space to do just that.