In a conversation with Danny Paschall, one is likely to hear him mention the “tone and texture” of conversation. Paschall, dean of students, describes conversations surrounding difficult issues in nuanced and careful ways.

His own tone and texture in speaking are distinctive — he’ll furrow his eyebrows, ask thoughtful questions and listen carefully.

PASCHALL ENGAGES HOMOSEXUALITY TOPIC

During his 19 years at Biola, Paschall has seen university culture ebb and flow. He doesn’t take anything as standard to the culture, but carefully considers every topic and concern specifically.

In the past, the conversation surrounding homosexuality was a bit more hands-off, but he believes it should be engaged, Paschall said. As dean of students, Paschall ensures that Biola community standards and policies are being upheld in all areas.

“In general, my job is to make sure that we are creating a safe, healthy, flourishing, engaging community. If there’s individuals that keep Biola from being safe, from being a healthy environment, then it’s my job to address that,” he explained.

This position puts him in a sort of middleman space between students and administration.

“I am a student advocate. I want to represent well the student voice and let that speak into policy, into administration,” he said.

CREATING A SAFE PLACE

This year, especially, he’s focused on understanding the conversation of homosexuality better. Notably, he met with a conversation group of students who are side B — those who deal with same-sex attraction but view it as a sin — every two weeks.

“Even among this group of young men, they all have very different thoughts and perspectives because they all have different, unique stories and backgrounds,” he said.

The group is not a formal mentorship or support group, it’s simply a chance to talk about homosexuality on campus. Conversations range from everyday life to thinking together about questions faculty might ask and helpful answers.

Even beyond the group, Paschall is continually thinking about ways he can learn and grow. In the middle of our interview, he stepped over to his desk and rummaged through a filing cabinet to find a highlighted and dog-eared article.

The journal article noted that Christian colleges can maintain doctrinal stances while still creating space for students to consider sexual ethics.

“I don’t think students are just about ‘I want doctrinal change.’ What they want is a safe place to figure this out for their own lived experience,” Paschall said.

HOLDING TRUE TO BIOLA'S DOCTRINAL STANCE

He attempts to expand his thinking and the thinking of other decision-makers on campus while holding true to Biola’s doctrinal stance.

Central to the group and Paschall’s entire philosophy of working with students is the idea of relationship.

In good communication, relationship is equally as important as content, noted communication studies professor Tim Muehlhoff. Paschall excels at the relational aspect, Muehlhoff said.

“When people talk to Danny, they feel acknowledged … He does a great job of respecting other viewpoints,” he said.

Paschall is marked by a desire to care for the people affected by the conversations of homosexuality.

“Two words that guide my whole thinking on this topic are complexity and compassion,” Paschall said, noting that the issue of homosexuality impacts people at their core.

His approach is characterized by reverence, learning and growing. Paschall displays humility throughout any conversation about homosexuality, admitting the issue is difficult and he doesn’t have all the answers.

“Don’t move the way fear makes you move,” he reminds himself regularly — three times alone in our interview.

“People don’t want to be fixed and saved. They want to be seen and they want to be heard. That’s what I want to do. I want to see and hear,” he said.

Paschall acknowledges the tension of Biola being a place for conversation while still maintaining the university’s policies. Though he desires the environment to be safe and healthy, he also acknowledges it won’t be perfect.

“It’s also a place where I want the broken-hearted, and where I want people who are really struggling to come find answers, to find healing. To do that, I need to create an environment where students can be a little messy,” Paschall said.

ADMINISTRATION'S THOUGHTFUL APPROACH

On the administrative side of things, Paschall is part of a committee of staff and faculty who meet regularly to discuss sexuality on campus.

Tammy Anderson, another member of that committee and the dean of student affairs for Rosemead School of Psychology, has worked with Paschall for 13 years and says it’s been fun, mentioning that she respects his authenticity.

“His heart for students is evident. It’s not an easy job that he does … it’s really hard to be a bridge because bridges inherently have tension, if you’re using that analogy,” she said.

Forecasting what’s next for conversations about homosexuality at Biola, Paschall mentioned that the faculty heard from a panel of gay alumni at the beginning of finals week about their experience. When Paschall first came to Biola, homosexuality was discussed rarely — and when it was, he said, it felt a little more fear-based.

“Now, I wouldn’t say that’s true … In general, this is not a topic that Biola administration approaches with fear. They approach it with thoughtfulness,” he said. “So, that feels really refreshing to me. I’m really grateful for that.”

Paschall hopes to create safer places and voices for people to engage in this discussion at Biola, pointing out that one-on-one conversations are the place where this begins.