Winds of conflict and streams of water
If you are a college president, which I happen to be, your inbox is full of alarms and advice about the winds of conflict on campuses this fall.
College campuses tend to be at the edge of cultural conflicts. This will be a historic election year that is hard-hitting and emotional. The conflict between Israel and Hamas grinds on, causing incomprehensible suffering and provoking activism that has rocked operations and civility on campuses. We are in the midst of cultural conflicts about our identities, what they mean and how we will live together.
As we begin our fall classes today, we intend to do what we do best at Goshen College: to educate. That is our mission — to educate toward our core values of compassionate peacemaking, global citizenship and passionate learning.
In 2018, we defined what we mean when we speak about diversity, equity and inclusion. For example,
Inclusion means belonging to a campus environment in which people are respected, accepted and connected to one another. Community members come together in friendly, caring and authentic ways, and have opportunities to participate in community life and its ongoing evolution.
Inclusion is attractive, but it is not easy or guaranteed. Conflict is an essential part of the human experience, and while conflict can bring energy and creative potential, it can also become divisive and mean. In 2020, we adopted a new statement on freedom of speech and expression that said:
The ideas of different members of the college community will often and quite naturally conflict, but it is not the role of the college to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, uncivil or even deeply offensive. Rather, members of the college community should be encouraged to act according to the principle that the best response to ideas that they find offensive is more speech, not censorship. . . . This statement seeks to enhance and not to compromise the college’s educational mission.
Knowing that we do not always agree, we are also putting in place policies that we hope will allow more speech and expression without violence to people’s identities or persons, or obstructing others’ freedom to learn.
As I manage my sometimes frightening inbox, I feel optimistic and grateful. For example, when I met with GC Voices for Peace, a student group who organized a demonstration for a ceasefire in Gaza last March, we did the work of a college. I shared their horror at the unfolding violence in Gaza and found common ground. We did not agree on everything, but we filled a white board with ideas that we want to work on as we regather.
In separate planning processes this summer, our Campus Ministries chose “Rooted in Love” as their theme for the year, the Academic Success Center’s theme is “Rooted in Connection” and the title of my opening convocation address on Wednesday is “Root to Rise.” Convergence!
I welcome honest and challenging conversations as we are buffeted by our beloved and turbulent world. I am praying that our campus will be like a tree planted by streams of water, that is not blown away in the winds, but yields its fruit in season (Psalm 1).
Rebecca Stoltzfus