TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — The Office of Civic Engagement is working to make uncomfortable topics more comfortable via its Coffee and Conversation series.

Coffee and donuts were the Office of Civic Engagement’s key to bringing students together to discuss some heavy topics in Thursday’s meeting. This session’s focus was about embracing differences.

“All of us are different here at Troy University, and I feel like we all need to come together and talk about those differences in an environment where we can do that comfortably and without judgment,” student Julia Smith said.

For Smith, differences allow for a better understanding of the world around her.

“Talking about these things helps us to understand and appreciate other points of view that we may not have thought about before.”

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It may be difficult for some students to discuss differences and disagreements. This event featured introductions and ice breakers in hope of making students feel safer sharing their point of view.

“We want to provide a comfortable environment for students to be able to discuss issues that we’re passionate about, but we may fall on opposite sides of the issue,” said Lauren Cochran, the Office of Civic Engagement. “The main goal of coffee and conversations is to open students minds to circumstances outside of their own.

“A lot of times we tend to associate ourselves. We tend to become friends. We tend to hang out more with the people that we agree with. So, we really want to provide opportunities to increase students comfort levels with having conversations with people that we disagree with or understanding perspectives that are not our own.”

Organizers hope that understanding better equips students to go through life with the experiences of others in mind.