PLNU hosts ‘Listening Circles’ event about migration, immigration 

In response to conversations around migration and immigration happening in the nation, Point Loma Nazarene University hosted an event last week for students to process recent political violence.

“Listening Circles” was held in the Cunningham Dining Room at Point Loma Nazarene University on Feb. 12 to invite students to participate in a dialogue centered around migration and immigration. Jason Cha, dean of students at PLNU, who helps facilitate Listening Circles events,  said the goal is to allow students to share what is on their hearts and minds while also listening to each other. 

“The recent unrest that we have witnessed surrounding immigration and migrant communities has been unsettling and felt across locally here in Southern California, and across our nation,” the email sent by PLNU’s Dean of Students Office on Feb. 6 read. The email said all who attend are to participate in the conversation, applying “intentional listening.” 

Early last month, hundreds of San Diegans took to the streets of local counties in protest of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents — just one example of how locals are responding to political turmoil. 

“We live in a time where our perspectives are often shaped by algorithm-driven social media feeds, polarized rhetoric, and sometimes misinformation,” the email said. “Higher education offers an opportunity to gather in community, exchange diverse ideas, and learn deeply from one another in person and in a way that humanizes these complex topics.”

Cha said part of what inspired this event was recognizing that certain political events in the world and on campus can “deeply affect many of our students.”

“The growing unrest across our country surrounding immigration has been an example of just that,” Cha said in an email interview. 

Grace Gaines, a second-year international studies major, was a participant at the event. She said she enjoyed it and thought it was necessary and timely. 

“As a participant, I felt respected, heard and encouraged,” Gaines said in an email interview. “I think it is absolutely necessary to enter into spaces of proximity with those we disagree with. Empathy can be a gateway to understanding, which can be a catalyst for change.”

Kathy Lee, director of student experience, was an event facilitator. Her job was to help guide conversation, ensuring everyone had the opportunity to speak and listen. 

Lee said her takeaway from the event was seeing the need for more face-to-face spaces to hold dialogue and listening, as it improves understanding and connection. 

“I think it was great to see how students engaged well in this space,” Lee said in an email interview. “In today’s polarized state of society, it’s easy to just cut people off, come up with our own assumptions about people and I think hearing from students there is a desire to have more spaces to reflect and listen in safe spaces.”

Cha said he hoped students felt heard and practiced listening to other students share their perspectives. 

“I’m taking away [from the event] the affirmation that students yearn for opportunities to have hard and meaningful in person interactions with each other,” Cha said.