As we embark on a new academic semester, we need to be mindful that we all need to work and study in an environment where we not only feel, but we know, that we can live, study and communicate peacefully in our college community. We are a family of humans and we encourage each other to think and speak for oneself without fear of expressing a different point of view, perspective, or opinion. Our speech is protected, but at the same time, we must respect reasonable expectations in its regard. If a point of view is different than our own, it can still be voiced. Every person is equal and deserves a chance to speak, even if we do not agree.
We have many divisive issues swirling around us now, from large global issues like the war in Gaza and the Presidential election to smaller matters like dealing with a non-collegial supervisor or roommate. Each of the conflicts that we face every day poses its own challenges and I urge us all to take a momentary breath before responding in a difficult conversation.
As hard as it may be, try to apply these principles to challenging interchanges:
- Be clear in your own mind about your position and why
- Really listen to the other person with the goal of understanding them
- Respond in a way that follows the “assertive” method as opposed to the passive or aggressive
- Refrain from putting labels on people in order to pigeonhole them as “this” or “that”
- Try to find common ground where you can and see where there is unity and shared values
- Thank the other person for their time and their consideration of your position
While these things may seem simplistic, they are difficult to carry out. We feel strongly about our beliefs and often we will not even attempt to consider another point of view. Please remember that we are a community of scholars and, as such, we believe and support education. Hoping for us all to practice being a supporting learning community throughout the new academic year
