Miguel Navarro
Staff Writer
Jason Niedleman, professor of political science, kicked off the “What Matters to Me and Why” lecture series for the fall semester with his talk Sept. 4.
Neidleman’s lecture focused on his desire to understand various viewpoints, and how he values his religion and family.
Before an audience of about 20 in the Ludwick Center Sacred Space, Niedleman acknowledged that his opinions and perspectives may not align with his audience’s, and he emphasized the importance of finding and maintaining shared values.
He also talked about the potential ills of social media, and how it can be divisive.
“Learning matters to me a lot,” Niedleman said. “I think there’s a lot in the world that is assaulting our desire to have space for learning. And my students can tell you I talk a lot about avoiding the algorithm.”
Niedleman touched on the importance of religion to him, and how Judaism allows him to have a relationship with something bigger than himself.
“What really speaks to me in Judaism is this idea that we’re commanded to feel gratitude for freedom,” Niedleman said.
He emphasized the importance of understanding other perspectives and having empathy.
“It was really cool to see what are some of the things that really drive him, not just as a faculty member but as a human being,” Malissa Hernenez, executive assistant for the provost’s office said.
Miguel Navarro can be reached at miguel.navarro@laverne.edu.
Miguel Navarro is a senior journalism major with a concentration in broadcast journalism, and is a staff writer for the Campus Times. He also serves as a broadcaster at the University of La Verne, and he hopes to one day work in sports media.
Antonio Ceniceros is a senior photography major and a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. He is also the lead photographer and social media manager for the University of La Verne’s football team, and currently specializes in sports, concert, and fashion photography. You can find his work on Instagram at @flicksbycinco..
