The Listening Couch

Outside the McKay library sat an old floral couch for most the morning and early afternoon.  Its not often you see spare furniture out on the sidewalks of BYU-Idaho.  So just why is this couch on the sidewalk?  And what does it have to do with listening?

Listening is the most frequent of all communication processes that human’s experience.  It is also often considered one of the most difficult to do effectively. 

 An interpersonal communication class on campus, decided to provide BYU-I students a chance to be heard.  To do this, they designed a service project they call the Listening Couch. 

Group member Jack Nukaya said,  “Sometimes we have really bad listening skills, and we thought that it would be really good to just listen to people.” 

Using an old couch the group gives passersby a place to tell jokes, stories, or share their frustrations.  The group simply listens.

Amanda Smith, a passing student spotted the novelty and decided to join in.  She related, “People who are stressed can sit down and say ‘This is what stressing me out..’  And then you can just get it all out, leave it on the couch, and walk on without it.  I think you realize that there is a lot about people have things going on that you don’t even realize.   I think, maybe, it makes you a little more considerate.”

The group hopes that the Listening Couch will become a recurrent or permanent feature of the campus.

 Nathan Sardoni, an active group participant spoke of the future of the project, “Maybe we’ll set up two or three Listening Couches on campus, just cause I think there are lot fun.  It’s an easy way to meet people and get out and express yourself.  It’s a good way to tell stores without having someone come and try to tell a story up over yours.”

Another passing student, Alea Crisco, was intrigued by the couch, and shared; “I think as humans we crave connection with other people and knowing what’s going on aside of our own world.”

The group from the Interpersonal Communication class, will continue providing the services of the Listening Couch until at least the end of the semester.