In the Company of Friends: Assumption Welcomes Civic Friendship Students

Mary Jane Rein

Guest Writer

Assumption’s new Civic Friendship students are showing that friendship can be more than just hanging out—it can be a way to shape campus life.

In its inaugural year, the Civic Friendship Program has brought together a group of first-year students who are helping to build a culture of dialogue, respect, and care on campus. A group of them are living in Worcester Hall, but even those living elsewhere are joining them for meals, activities, and late-night conversations.

Together, they are launching a student podcast (In the Company of Friends), building bonds of trust, and creating the conditions for productive discussions that bridge differences.

Their goal is to practice civic friendship as both a personal commitment and a contribution to the Assumption community.

For some, the journey began even before the rest of campus arrived, with a pre-orientation day that brought them together for the first time.

Using a box of conversation starters, the group quickly moved beyond introductions to engage in meaningful exchanges about the values and skills we hope to cultivate, as well as their concerns and expectations for the year ahead.

The next day, they pitched in to help move the incoming first-year class into the dorms. Carrying boxes, greeting families, and easing nerves gave them a sense of shared purpose—and the experience of civic friendship in action.

Since then, Worcester Hall has become more than just a residence hall. It has grown into a place of community, care, and collaboration. The students have organized themselves into committees to plan activities that will shape the future of the program. They are also reaching beyond their dorm, engaging with campus life, launching a new Instagram page and creating the podcast, In the Company of Friends, to share how civic friendship is taking root across campus.

Alongside residential life, the program emphasizes engagement with ideas about how to bridge differences through productive conversations. They have participated in events designed to deepen reflection and foster skills for navigating challenging topics.

The first in a series of Civic Symposia was held in Pierres, where Special Education Professor Samantha Goldman led a discussion, Leveraging Similarities to Navigate Differences. The conversation encouraged students to consider how shared experiences can create common ground, even when disagreements arise. Crumbl cookies were a highlight–because sharing a meal is part of how we create a relaxed environment that makes people comfortable to talk with one another.

Inspired by Assumption’s Catholic liberal arts tradition and Augustinian values, the program encourages students to see civic friendship not simply as an idea, but as a way of living in community.

The students also see themselves as leaders in shaping a culture where habits of care, dialogue, and friendship, can inspire others to build spaces where people from different backgrounds can connect meaningfully. The combination of living together, learning together, and leading together is what makes the program distinctive.

At its heart, Civic Friendship is about more than personal growth—it is about making Assumption a place where friendship and respect can flourish across differences.

The inaugural cohort is already embodying that mission, setting the tone for future students, and showing that civic friendship CAN be the foundation for creating a community dedicated to fostering the common good.