Just hours after the 2024 presidential election was called, Wheaton students and staff alike gathered in the Chapel Base to process what had just happened. Part of the new ‘Politics In The Park’ event series, this dialogue was led by Coordinator Valery León Quintero and Assistant Director Amanda Napior, and geared towards giving people a space to evaluate their emotions, connect with others, and feel a sense of togetherness. In the wake of a stressful and frustrating night for many, the Wheaton community showed its true colors through immense respect, bravery, and motivation.
The Wheaton Community collected in the Chapel Base to discuss the outcome of the election.
The event itself had been scheduled and arranged for weeks in advance, but there was only so much that those involved could do to prepare for what was in store. “We were expecting not to have results in the morning of,” said Quintero, a Center for Social Justice and Community Impact staff member. “So we were preparing to be guiding students through navigating uncertainty, or trying to manage those feelings.” However, when the election results became clear not long after the polling closed, the event coordinators knew they would have to shift their approach to facilitating the conversation. “Rather than managing anxiety,” Quintero continued, “it’s also like, ‘How are you feeling right now? How are you preparing? How does this affect you?’”
These questions, among others, were at the core of the dialogue that took place. As people filed into the Base, they assumed a seated position in a large circle that took up most of the room. Quintero and Napior began the session by establishing the “community agreements,” a set of ground rules such as not interrupting others and challenging ideas instead of people, that would govern the ensuing conversation. Once these had been laid out, people were asked how they were feeling at that moment, and a handful of individuals shared their responses. A few emotions that were expressed included disappointment, fear, surprise, and thankfulness for having a space like ‘Politics In The Park’ to come together with others.
With those feelings out there, Napior and Quintero posed the first main question for discussion: What is this moment calling for in you, in terms of showing up for yourself and others? They answered first and then began passing a small plastic candlelight, or tea light, around the circle, which was meant to symbolize a microphone and give the floor to whoever was holding the candle. These were conscious decisions made by Quintero and Napior to help create the kind of space they had in mind while planning for the event. “To honor our community agreements, we came up with the tea light,” said Quintero. “Also, we put ourselves first not to just talk, but also to demonstrate to people that we were willing to be vulnerable in a space with them.”
As the tiny flame made its way around the room, it opened up space for people to express a multitude of goals and motivations. Some felt moved to become more politically active. Some expressed a desire to connect with their family. Some stated that they planned on taking extra good care of themselves in the coming days. A few people used the question as a jumping-off point to voice frustrations, such as not knowing where the country could go from here, and knowing that they cannot change the election results even though they want to. One Wheaton staff member even stated that they were scared to voice their true opinions about the election over fear of repercussions from the school administration.
As the session passed its halfway point, Napior and Quintero asked their second main question: How can we keep others accountable from a place of love and care? Again, responses were varied but hit on some key ideas. A few methods that were mentioned included respecting individuals who hold differing opinions, reminding people that they are voting for those who can’t, and using the power of stories to connect with others. Self-accountability was also discussed at length, both as a positive and a negative. Some said that there are institutions that are more in need of being held accountable than any one person. On the other hand, some thought that without being self-accountable, there is no way to lead others and hold them accountable.
As 2 p.m. drew near and the session began to wrap up, Quintero and Napior expressed their gratitude for everyone who attended whether they spoke or not. They also made it clear that they would be there for anyone who needed someone to talk to or someone to guide them through the ensuing days. People began heading out, likely heading off to their next class or perhaps a dining hall or dorm.
Even though the scheduled ‘Politics In The Park’ session had come to a close, the effects of it are still likely being felt to this day. The kind of ideas, inspiration, and motivation that the Wheaton community shared that morning in the Chapel Base do not disappear overnight. Instead, they are captured, internalized, and held on to by those who need them. Most importantly, they help build community, which was the central goal of the event in the first place. As Quintero put it, “Community happens. People think that it’s just an abstract, but community is something that you have to work towards every day. And I think that this was an example of how we can work towards that.”