Samford’s Multicultural Affairs Committee held its Common Ground event on Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 6-7 p.m. in Harry’s Coffeehouse.
Director of the Multicultural Affairs Committee Christa Chery shared the value of this event for students.
“We all have a responsibility to learn to love our neighbors and that includes loving those who have had different experiences and come from different backgrounds,” Chery said.
At the beginning of the event, Chery shared the following scripture:
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)
After that, Sophomore Healthcare Administration major Jadyn Kilgore then discussed the different ground rules for the event, such as honor and respect people’s experiences and
stories, assume good intentions, take responsibility for what you say, be okay if people are not comfortable sharing, be engaged in conversation and step out of your comfort zone.
There were three rounds for the event where groups of attendees were given discussion questions facilitated by a moderator. The first round dealt with the person’s perspective of the Samford community and culture. The second round had participants explore the diversity of their friend groups and how much they interact with a person of a different background than theirs. The final round focused on different ways that participants could be a better neighbor to those in their community.
Sophomore Class President Micaiah Collins said finding common ground is essential to understanding one another.
“When we engage in conversation and discussion, we should attempt to identify things we have in common rather than highlighting our differences. This approach causes us to be much more respectful in our interactions with others,” Collins said.
Collins spoke at the end of the event, and left students with a message.
“When we are intentional about focusing on our similarities more than our differences, we are bound to find something in common,” Collins said. “There is common ground in everything, we just have to be willing to find it.”
The Multicultural Affairs Committee offers similar trainings for student organizations, sororities, fraternities, and class. For more information about the Multicultural Affairs Committee or how to schedule a training, contact Christa Chery at cchery@samford.edu.
Staff Writer
