The magic of theater: it is a crash course in human empathy. How often do we get to step outside of ourselves and view the world through someone else’s eyes and experience?

When I came to Lafayette, it was the first time I felt like a minority. My network of friends and acquaintances was approximately 12 individuals. I longed to branch out but was unsure how to do so. Then I came across a flyer for an upcoming production of The Rivals, and I decided to take a leap of faith and audition. When I discovered that The Rivals was a 18th-century play that required British accents, I decided to leave the audition – how was I, a large black man from the Bronx, going to fit in? But, after some encouragement from the director, I stayed and was cast in a principal role. Since then I have been a part of several productions.

On the stage, actors are allowed to transcend barriers like race and socioeconomic status. Individuals come together in the creation of art, and art cannot exist without harmony among all those involved in its creation. I employ this same sentiment as a Resident Advisor. I remind my residents that they live in a community, and everyone has an active role in what they want that community to be.

Christopher Duru ’10 is vice president of LAMP (Lafayette Academy of Motion Pictures) and will take over next year as academic chair of the Association of Black Collegians. He’s a double major in history and English from the Bronx, N.Y.

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