Gilberto Perez Jr. is the current Senior Director of Intercultural Development & Educational Partnerships at Goshen College.
It is a known fact that rumors spread quickly. It is also a known fact that change is inevitable and it is constant. Throughout my short life I have come to know that nothing, I mean nothing, stays the same. And, I’ve come to learn that rumors can either have a short or long life span depending on how many people continue spreading said rumor. If you’re like me, it feels as though change is all around us. But more recently, change appears to be taking place at a faster rate. Let’s look at a few places where change takes place:
Places change – A few days ago I posted a picture on Instagram of the house I grew up in as a child. When I was a boy the house was painted green. Today the house is painted yellow and it has a fence. The two trees that were in front of the house are no longer there and the wall air-conditioner is not in the same place it used to be. I imagine houses that were in the neighborhood have either been moved and the corner store is probably closed. The elementary school I attended has been remodeled and expanded to fit more students.
People change – I only have to think of the friend requests I accept to realize that people change over time. The friendships I developed this past year are not the same when I first met these new and wonderful friends. The friendships of fifteen years ago are no longer the same. Some of the friends have brought memories that will last a life time and other friendships have ended. Children grow up, go to school, get jobs, raise families, and often move away from the places they were reared.
Forests change – Over time trees change in diameter and grow taller. The leaves change their colors and soon fall. The forest of twenty years ago no longer is. The forests of 120 years ago have changed because disturbances, tornados, winds, or other types of trees have grown in their area.
Communities change – People come and go. New buildings and schools are built and working together to build a safe place for all is created. But over time, faces in these communities change. People move in. People move out. New people arrive with different dreams and ideas of how a community should be and respond to those in need.
Government and politics change – During the 2016 presidential election, Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, and the Green Party talked about change we could believe in. Each party created their platform that let us know that they would bring change to our government and politics would not be the same.
Change is happening right before our eyes at Goshen College. We are not the same college of five years ago, 10 years ago or 20 years ago. The life of our college has changed. New structures are being put into place and new faces are leading the college. New faculty are teaching students and students from many different places continue to arrive at Goshen College. This change may seem unclear and possibly unsettling. There are more first-generation diverse students at Goshen College than ever before. There are more Latinos at Goshen College than ever before. There are more African Americans at Goshen College than ever before. There are more religiously diverse students at Goshen College. There are more LGBTQ+ students on campus. The college has updated its non-discriminatory policy. Places change, people change, forests change, communities change, and government and politics change. Colleges change. But, is our change rumor worthy? Is the change at Goshen College so out there that rumors about ways to treat the other and how to engage and live in difference take hold and spread like wild fire?
What can we expect from this change and what can administrators, faculty, staff, and students do to participate in this change?
First, I believe we can expect great and mighty things to take place because of this change. Being together with a group of people (faculty, administrators, staff, and students) to experience new structures, new academic programs, and co-curricular programs is what excites me every day I walk to work. Whenever you put creative and intelligent minds together great things happen.
Second, the change that is being experienced at Goshen College requires one to do more listening than talking. Listening to one another is important because it allows us to learn what the other is experiencing. All members of the campus community benefit from hearing each other tell their highs and lows of being at Goshen College. Each individual in our campus community has a story worth listening to and we must create safe spaces to listen to one another. To tell our stories is to give life to our lived experience. Our stories have value and others should hear our stories. Telling our stories of joy and pain allows us to find our voice. Telling our story will help refine our opinion, refine our cause, and refine our activism for social change which.
Third, the change we experience should be seen as engaging radically in otherness versus sameness. I don’t know about you, but sameness can become the norm. I feel most comfortable with the people who are like me, believe like me, and think like me. What is otherness? It is being in a place of difference. You know, it feels uncomfortable or it feels like you’re the thorn in the person’s side because you’ll never agree with what the other person is saying. This “otherness” work requires us to conversations or activities where difference is present with rigorous and disciplined intentionality. We can host otherness through the support and encouragement of friends who pursue the quest for inclusion. Coffee Club is attempting to do this at Goshen College. Bringing people together for coffee to engage in conversation about difference is hosting otherness.
To me, the demographic, religious, socio-economic, and political change in employees and students at Goshen College is about trying to see where God walks, who God touches, and where God breathes. There is no right way to do inclusion and justice work, rather this work needs to be about being intentional in building relationships with people who are different than ourselves. Honestly, I believe the inclusion and justice work will probably be about a lot of mess and fuss from people who struggle to understand one another. I don’t know about you, but I recognize I cannot do inclusion and justice work alone. I need my colleagues, students and groups outside of Goshen College to help me be a better listener of stories. This is why the Intercultural Committee at Goshen College is inviting Roots of Justice to help us learn how to be an inclusive and an anti-racist college. And, this is why I am inviting African American, Latino, Asian-American, and Native American leaders to be our mentors and guides along the way. Be on the lookout for leaders in classrooms, soccer games, basketball games, club events, convocation, chapel, and CAC events. Our leader friends won’t always be speakers or facilitators of conversation. Leaders will also serve as listeners and have watchful eyes to see how we interact and how we live with one another.
How does it feel to think about pervasive ambiguity and uncertainty about what Goshen College will be like in five, ten, or fifteen years from now? I want to believe we will focus on the undercurrent of justice, inclusion, renewal, responsiveness, and relationships. I started this opinion piece by stating that places change. Indeed, Goshen College is changing. Hosting the other for coffee, pozole, tacos, or holding barbershop talks is helping us understand where we need to change our attitudes and often times misconception of the other, gain knowledge about the other, and build relationships with the other. I can’t predict what Goshen College will be like in the future, but I can safely say Goshen College is changing. I want to believe our change is rumor worthy! I like the change I see at Goshen College! I want to believe God likes this change! Where do you see change at Goshen College? Do you like what you see? Send me a note at gperez@goshen.edu. I am happy to listen. Coffee, a smoothie, or a lemonade is on me!
- GILBERTO PEREZ JR.