Literary theorist and poet Kenneth Burke defines terministic screens as a rhetorical device that influences how individuals perceive and respond to a situation. They are a lens through which each individual looks at life, and are created through a person's experiences and language acquisition. The language used for one group may not be the same for another. Each word has a symbolic meaning to a person and might mean something different to another person. Terministic screens interact in a Communication Center through the setbacks and benefits of peer education. Students are all influenced by terministic screens, and consultants must implement policies including them to do their job well and keep an open mind. In the article, Olivia King analyzes how terministic screens can help and hinder peer education in communication centers, as well as, how these hinderances can be overcome.