Today is the last day for seniors to turn in their theses, which means it’s the perfect day for another Senior Spotlight! Benjy (he/they) is a sociology major from Oak Park, Illinois. His thesis delves into the social implications of coffee shops (because there are so many in Portland!). Specifically, he is looking at unique coffee shops that are creating community connections in their neighborhoods. Cafes have been an important place for social gatherings for centuries: from the conversations in 18th century Parisian coffeehouses that resulted in modern concepts of democracy, republicanism, and revolution, to coffee shops in the 60s and 70s that served as critical spaces for the anti-war movement. However, many of today’s cafes are incredibly different from their predecessors, often serving solely as a place for people to work on their laptops or grab a $5 latte to go. In the modern American context of weak public engagement and communities falling apart, cafes that specifically tr...