Sid Efromovich: Saving the World One Hug at a Time

Sporting a buzz cut with a peace sign shaved into the back, Sid Efromovich, a junior in CAS, takes a moment to read his notes before addressing the group of students gathered in the Howard Thurman Center for "Coffee and Conversation." "If the government starts taxing drivers $8 to enter Manhattan, then the revenue could be used to create a more efficient and reliable form of public transportation," he says. "When I was in Switzerland, I took the bus everywhere; not only was it cheap, but it was the most reliable transportation I'd ever seen. If the schedule said the bus would be at the stop at 1:05, it would be there at 1:05:00 on the dot. Now you're telling me we can't do that in America?"

At that moment, a scruffy blond 19-year-old guy jumps in, saying, "What about our freedom? I shouldn't be restricted from driving to New York because I can't afford the $8. Not everyone can afford to pay that daily."

Sid replies, "Well, in that case, you could take the public transportation. The $8 fee would increase demand for better public transportation, and while the improvement wouldn't be immediate, it could be done within 5 years. Trust me, I've seen it happen."

"Yeah but then you're punishing the lower class who have cars but can't pay the eight bucks to get into the city every day," snaps the 19-year-old Alabama native. "I mean, here you are in your business suit arguing for conservation and progress, but you don't know what it's like to be living paycheck to paycheck. The poor need to worry about survival before they worry about the environment."

Sid's ever-present smile fades as the debate turns into a personal attack. "Look, I've lived in a third-world country my whole life and have traveled all over the world. I can guarantee you I've seen the most extreme forms of poverty imaginable. If we sacrifice the convenience of our cars, we could push the government to create the most amazing system of public transportation on the planet. It's not unreachable."

The blond student starts to interject, but at that moment Dean Kenneth Elmore cuts him off and says, "Ok, let's allow someone else to pitch in." Elmore is the moderator of the "Coffee and Conversation" session, a weekly gathering of BU students who wish to discuss world issues. This week's topic happens to be environmental protection, and what began as an intellectually stimulating conversation has escalated into a heated debate. What caused such a drastic shift in tone? Well, let's ask Sid.

"People don't always like what I have to say. They think I'm too idealistic and not down-to-earth enough to realize what's possible and what's not." He sighs in frustration as he overhears the Alabama guy telling his friends why his argument is better than Sid's. "I can't believe that kid attacked me because I'm wearing a suit!"

Sid's used to facing opposition, but he can't stand being subject to prejudice. In fact, he's devoted most of his life to combating discrimination with small acts of kindness, especially hugs. The founder of Hug Don't Hate, a peace-building group at BU, Sid appears to be a part-time students and full-time activist. "When people ask what my major is, I answer 'leadership and peace-building,'" Sid says. "I've had to settle for straight B's this semester, but can you ask for better real world training?"

Sid's training comes from the challenges he faces as president of Hug Don't Hate, a job that requires dedication and a desire to make a difference. David Zamojski, BU's Assistant Dean of Students and Hug Don't Hate advisor, told the Hug Don't Hate website, "I really admire the leadership of this organization and its commitment to uniting the campus...these students have big ideas, as well as drive and spirit."

Sid's passion for peace and unity started with a backpacking trip to Europe on a gap year between high school and college. "I witnessed so much discrimination on my trip, and it shocked me because in Brazil (Sid's native country), discrimination is socially unacceptable," he said. "If I hadn't gone on that trip, I wouldn't be doing Hug Don't Hate or organizing a peace concert."

While Sid is expanding Hug Don't Hate's programs, he still continues the tradition that made Hug Don't Hate so popular in the first place: Free Hug Fridays. If you walk past Marsh Plaza on any given Friday during the fall, you'll find somebody from Hug Don't Hate giving out hugs to the community. "Offers of free hugs make so many people smile-even those who decline," said Zamojski. "BU is such a large institution, and I think this organization is making it feel smaller and warmer."

Sid's hugs, smile, and charisma are becoming well-known at BU, yet he never waivers from his original goal: fixing the world. Sid became a social activist before traveling the globe and coming to Boston University, only his area of focus was poverty alleviation, not discrimination. "People need to see how socially unacceptable it is that people are starving," he said. "The poor are completely dehumanized, and that's why we can't fix the problem."

To tackle the poverty crisis, Sid got involved with the THIMUN Youth Assembly, a forum for young adults to voice their opinions on the world's problems and strategize on how to fix them. Sid says the group is essentially a think tank comprised of students who divide themselves up into committees and tackle specific issues.

After his journey across Europe, Sid decided to join the Education Against Discrimination committee within the Youth Assembly. The idea for Hug Don't Hate originated at one of the committee meetings, and Sid took it upon himself to polish the concept into a feasible project. "I spent 48 hours at a hostel in Switzerland thinking, just thinking, about this Hug Don't Hate idea," Sid said. "From 9 PM to 11 AM, I sat in front of my computer writing up the Hug Don't Hate business and action plan. I presented it to the committee, and after editing the document for grammar, they elected me the Director of Hug Don't Hate." With his newfound responsibility, Sid decided to enact his Hug Don't Hate plan at Boston University to make sure it was practical.

Originally, he wanted Hug Don't Hate to be a message that BU groups could embrace and spread; however, the Student Activities Office brushed off his ideas, forcing Sid to found Hug Don't Hate as an official student organization. This was during Sid's freshman year, and, according to him, the SAO was going through a transition stage, making the entire process of starting a club slow and draining. After four months of meetings, paperwork and persistency, Hug Don't Hate finally debuted in the fall of 2006-Sid's sophomore year.

"When I presented SAO with the idea for Hug Don't Hate as a freshman, I was ignored," Sid said. "People said the peace shirt would never sell." Sid is referring to the Hug Don't Hate t-shirt in which the word peace, written in 108 languages, forms the shape of a dove. A smile creeps up on Sid's face as he tells me, "We've fundraised $10,000 with that shirt."

Part of that money helped Hug Don't Hate and 82 other student groups organize the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace concert, which took place on April 26. A first-of-its-kind for Boston University, the concert featured performances by Amy Steinberg, the Powers that Be, Delhill, Love in Stockholm, and Braddigan, formerly of Dispatch. "This concert marks the largest collaboration of student groups in BU history," said Sid, who spearheaded the development of the show with Bruna Maia, the Vice-President of Hug Don't Hate, and Lauren Slater, the President of Unicef @ BU.

"The MLK Jr. Peace Concert was a perfect example of effective leadership on campus," said Bruna, who first met Sid in Brazil when she was four years old. "The committee worked very hard together as one unified body, and while individually everyone contributed in some special way, together we made the event possible."

Sid came up with the idea of having everyone in the audience wear a symbol of peace, so he and his partners developed a special "concert version" of the already popular Hug Don't Hate peace shirt. As part of the $10 ticket price, attendees received a white dove shirt, which they were encouraged to wear to the concert. "I wanted to create a sense of brotherhood and connection among people, and the t-shirt idea seemed perfect to foster belonging," said Sid. "Peace is for everyone, and that shirt is about finding peace. It's not about promoting Hug Don't Hate."

Metcalf Hall is decorated with an enormous peace sign banner and handmade cutouts of scenes from Martin Luther King's life. Sid, beaming from ear to ear, bounces around the concert hall hugging friends, acquaintances and strangers. His hair is freshly buzzed with a new peace sign shaved into the back of his head. As I walk in, he rushes over to give me a huge hug. "It's going to be a sick show," Sid tells me, smiling brightly and radiating energy. He then yells for somebody else and runs over to hug that person.

As the audience settles into Metcalf, a beam of light flashes onto the stage as Sid, Lauren, and Bruna take the microphone. "What's up everybody?" Sid screams, his eyes open wide in excitement. They all introduce themselves and shout, "It's my pleasure to introduce, the Powers that Be!"

As the band starts rocking out, Sid darts off the stage and starts dancing with his friends. His Facebook profile features the quote, "Dancing is like fuel for me." I now see what he means. As Sid jumps around to the beat of the song, swinging his arms and moving his feet, you can tell he's in absolute bliss. At this point, it would probably be tougher to wipe off his grin than run the Boston Marathon.

"I probably smile just as much as I walk," says Sid. "Most people say that very few people in the world are legitimately happy; I'm one of them."

"Sid's personality radiates positive energy to all those that surround him," said Bruna, who considers Sid a great friend and mentor. "He motivates all the members of his team, from Hug Don't Hate to the MLK Jr. Peace Concert to spread the message of peace by finding strength and confidence to overcome any given obstacles."

With so many accomplishments already under his belt, it's only natural to expect big things from Sid. But when I ask him what plans he has for the future, he just calmly says, "To be happy." After a few seconds of silence, I ask him how he'll find happiness.

He smiles and says, "Easy, by helping people."