The cuisine was delightful. The discussions were exceptional.

Initially, they convened for coffee. This month, they gathered for a complete meal.

Inspired by the Gaza conflict, Nim Ravid ’25, an economics major from Israel, sought to explore new methods for connecting students throughout the College. Last summer, he co-created “Our Harvard” alongside five of his colleagues, and one of their initial initiatives involved pairing students for coffee discussions aimed at fostering dialogues across divergent perspectives.

On April 1 at Smith Campus Center, the collective hosted a more extensive event: “Food For Thought: Our Harvard College,” an evening of dialogue where students shared their views on various topics.

Ravid was encouraged by the outcome.

“It was the most open and sincere I’ve ever witnessed Harvard students communicating with one another, which I believe mirrors our initiatives to draw students from all corners of campus to this gathering and foster an atmosphere where participants assume positive intentions and express their true thoughts,” he remarked.

The discussion, which was followed by a meal supplied by Harvard University Dining Services, was facilitated by Michael Sandel, Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government.   

“There’s a concern with dialogues like this, that all attendees might feel it’s much simpler to just celebrate diversity, enjoy some food, and leave, but that would overlook the learning and the grappling with the questions that can lead to genuine friendships and meaningful exchanges,” Sandel informed the audience.

Individually, members of Our Harvard and those present communicated feelings of exclusion based on their identity, national background, or beliefs, and the difficulties they faced in forming friendships across divides. Frederico Araujo ’25, a founder of Our Harvard from Portugal, shared his challenges in connecting with students from Brazil.

“At times, when I arrived at Annenberg and initiated a conversation that I wanted to be about our mutual language, shared cuisine, our collective music, and the numerous traditions shared between Brazilian and Portuguese culture, I would actually be met with indifference,” he stated. “I don’t need to recount historical facts about the relationship between Portugal and Brazil, but I didn’t realize those historical connections would be grounds for someone to disregard my attempt at friendship.” 

In response, Sandel remarked, “Sometimes appearing similarities can be surprising due to their distance.”

The dialogue also examined the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Ravid and others voicing their anxieties about sharing personal narratives. Several attendees without direct ties to the conflict noted they had found themselves uncomfortably positioned between friends with conflicting opinions.

Angie Gabeau ’25, another founding member of Our Harvard and a sociology major, admitted to feeling hesitant when the discussion shifted towards the Middle East, but she indicated that ultimately, it proved beneficial.

“I’m actually pleased that it was mentioned,” she expressed. “If you’re discussing the most pressing issue at the moment and still can open yourself up to dialogue with individuals who might hold opposing views, then addressing other topics will be significantly less intimidating.”

Gabeau, a resident of Boston, informed the audience that she arrived at Harvard expecting to connect with other Black students after attending a predominantly white high school. Residing in Winthrop House, she joined the Black Students Association, the Kuumba Singers, and Omo Naija x The Wahala Boys, an African dance ensemble.

“I was tremendously pleased to discover a community here,” she remarked. While underscoring the significance of these groups, Gabeau also emphasized the need to cultivate connections across differences. “This dialogue wasn’t intended to diminish the value of affinity organizations but rather to explore how we can exchange our cultures, ideas, values, and ethics with one another while feeling secure at Harvard,” she added after the event.

Tom Dunne, Dean of Students at Harvard College, found it significant “that the core group of students organizing this are seniors in their final weeks on campus.”

Ravid conveyed his aspiration that Food for Thought would ignite similar initiatives at Harvard. “I also hope this event inspires others to refrain from treating fellow students differently based on their identity, instead recognizing them for who they truly are,” he stated. “I wish for students to genuinely invest time in getting to know one another before making judgments.”

Gabeau pointed out that Our Harvard has established objectives that do not impose excessive demands on students.

“I don’t want this to be misconstrued as, ‘We can all be friends, and everything will be perfect,’ because that’s not really our aim,” she articulated. “There will be individuals with disagreements that won’t lead to camaraderie. I wouldn’t want people to traverse the campus acting as if they are friends.”

She elaborated: “It’s not about creating a flawless utopian society; rather, it’s about encouraging individuals to go the extra mile in seizing every opportunity available for joy and personal growth within the different facets of campus life.”