Annual event shows students different perspectives

 

Yesterday, the Student Center for Reconciliation and Diversity (SCRD) and the Spiritual Formation SALT team at Azusa Pacific hosted this semester’s “Uncommon Conversations” event in the Cougar Dome. 

The event was aimed at giving students the chance to have uncomfortable conversations with people whose opinions differ from their own. This “social experiment” involved student activities such as the “Will You Stand If” activity and the “Privilege Walk.”

Pastor Ta’Tyana Leonard headed the event. She welcomed students, then laid down the ground rules. She explained that students needed to respect each other. Leonard encouraged students to “listen to understand,” rather than listening to respond. 

Aubrey Berry, the program coordinator for SCRD, said Uncommon Conversations allows students to remove themselves from the situation and lets them go into someone else’s experiences.

 “[I hope] that students who came to the event walk away with a good understanding of someone else’s perspective and then they can push community and diversity here at APU,” Berry said.  

He encourages students to come by SCRD office, and go to their new event series, “Active Allies,” next Wednesday. Berry said it will be an opportunity for students to step into their role as an ally when it comes to diversity, race and gender. This first event is on white allyship, and how white people can come into the diversity conversation.

Uncommon Conversations attracted many students, including sophomore Faith Heggie.

“This is good because when I go to BSA with my friends it feels more awkward,” Heggie said 

The event was not limited to APU students. Several from Biola attended as well, including senior Elissa Sanchez. 

“It has shown me the need for diversity, and why people need to learn more about their cultural past,” Sanchez said. “It’s humbled me, and has taught me that being underprivileged is not a bad thing.”

After the event, Leonard spoke about the significance of Uncommon Conversations.

“The ability to have someone else’s story in front of them allows them to really humanize people we devalue,” she said.

Leonard pointed out that it is important to pray for people even when you disagree with them.

While this was the first Uncommon Conversations for many students, some have made it a habit to come back year after year, including senior Javier Covarrubias.

“I attended the very first [Uncommon Conversations], this was my fourth, I found the first experience to be very valuable, it offered an opportunity and a safe space that otherwise would make me feel uncomfortable,” Covarrubias said. “The people in my group were very challenged in their opinions or values and perceptions, which offered me an opportunity to share my personal perspective and have it heard and acknowledged in a much greater way then I feel in my classes.” 

Students who attended the event received an immersive experience of seeing what another part of the APU community undergoes on a daily basis. For students with a privileged upbringing, it showed them how much harder some people had to work to get to the same spot they are in.