The Newbury Center’s Fifth Birthday Celebration
by Maha Uddin
Unlike the harsh winter cold outside, the Newbury Center was warm and welcoming, especially on its birthday. Last Thursday, on February 5, 2026, the Newbury Center celebrated its 5th birthday alongside students and staff. There were cupcakes to celebrate, warm wishes to write onto the community art project, and games to play. Maria Erb, the inaugural executive director of the center, gave a speech to start off the event. The day also coincided with the university’s first Terrier Spirit Day (which happens on the first Thursday of every month). Many were decked out in their best BU gear, with red & white shirts filling the room.
The Newbury Center first opened in January of 2021 with the goal of “fostering the holistic success of first-generation students at Boston University.” Our first generation students are referred to as ‘Terrier F1RSTS,’ a name that is a mix of school spirit and pride in the first generation journey. The Newbury Center is named after the former Newbury College located in Brookline, Massachusetts, a private liberal arts college that had a long history of serving first generation students. When the college closed its doors in 2019, they left their funds to the Newbury Center at Boston University to establish a physical space to support community events and programming for the 20% of students at BU who are first generation college students. The Newbury Center would not be where it is today without the support of students who visit everyday — whether it’s to study or just for a cup of coffee!
Maha Uddin is a sophomore studying International Relations at the Pardee School of Global Studies. She is also a part of the Newbury Center student staff. In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends, writing, and exploring Boston.
