“The first word in university is ‘universe,’ and I think a lot more universal connections need to take place,” says Philip Effiong, Ph.D., a professor of theatre studies and integrative humanities at Michigan State University.

He argues that the university needs to focus on community connections, which is why he has been involved in efforts like the Ubuntu Dialogues and the Williamston Theatre.

Effiong has worked with the Ubuntu Dialogues through the African Studies Center. The Ubuntu Dialogues Project gives students a broader cultural understanding and the opportunity to engage in dialogues with other young people about pressing issues such as identity, sexuality, and more.

Through the dialogues, students travel to Cape Town, South Africa, and hold discussions with peers from other cultures attending Stellenbosch University. This opportunity encourages students to think critically and gives the students practical experience beyond the theoretical knowledge they gain in academia, Effiong says. Next year, students from Stellenbosch will be coming to East Lansing to continue these dialogues with MSU students.

Effiong’s students don’t just get to interact with the community outside of the U.S. They also have an opportunity to become involved with MSU’s surrounding communities through Effiong’s connection with the Williamston Theatre. Students get a feel for what it is like to work at a nonacademic theater. They can hone their skills and prepare for life after their university education. The community, on the other hand, “is able to connect more with the university and have a greater understanding that the university is actually a part of the community,” Effiong says.

During their time at MSU, students get the chance to be involved in many projects and experiences. Engaging with others near and far through the Ubuntu Dialogues and the Williamston Theatre provides them something more—a chance to make a broader impact.

Says Effiong, “If we’re talking about things that happen in society then we should also be out there in society, and society should also have a greater understanding of what we are doing and how what we are doing relates to and is important to society.”