Libby Thornton photo
Jayden McQueen speaks to students at Coffee and Conversations.
The Office of Civic Engagement held its fifth annual Coffee and Conversations,
a safe space for open dialogue where students can discuss a number of topics over donuts and coffee. This year’s discussion focused on gaining a sense of belonging.
Jayden McQueen, a junior political science major from Crestview, Florida, and a civic scholar, facilitated the conversation.
“We love for students to get out of their comfort zones,” McQueen said. “We want them to talk about topics they normally wouldn’t talk about with people they normally wouldn’t talk to.
“Students having dialogue with people who may have different perspectives and different backgrounds is very important.”
Students broke up into groups to discuss topics ranging from Troy’s college culture to the differences between extraverts and introverts. Students also shared experiences when they felt like they belonged and when they didn’t.
Maddie Osborne, a junior exercise science major from Alexander City, Alabama, shared what she told her group.
“I felt a huge sense of belonging when I joined my sorority,” Osborne said. “I met so many people that turned into my friends.
“College in general gave me the opportunity to see several new perspectives that I had never had the chance to see in high school.”
Civic Scholar Jamarion Willie, a freshman electronics engineering major from Huntsville, Alabama, shared times when he felt welcome and unwelcome.
“A time where I felt welcome was when I was joining campus organizations in the fall,” Willie said. “Being surrounded by freshmen that were in the same boat as me was reassuring.
“I also made a lot of friends during that time. A time where I felt unwelcome was at a party.
I don't drink or smoke, and a lot of people at this party were doing just that. I really felt like the odd one out.”
Students also discussed ways to create an inclusive campus. Ideas included free events, having more opportunities to be grouped together and more spaces to have open dialogues.
Willie shared what he wanted students to take away from Coffee and Conversations.
“I want students to meet new people,” Willie said. “We have so many different types of people here:
people involved in Greek life, international students, SGA officers and everyone in between here.
“It’s easy to find people with different backgrounds here.
I want students to come together to find a common problem and solve it together.”
To learn when the Office of Civic Engagement is announcing their next event, follow @troy_service on Instagram.
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