Our Enduring Commitment to Inclusive Excellence

Last week, we participated in one of the great traditions and revered responsibilities of American democracy: the election of public officials, including the election of the president of the United States. I am deeply inspired by the many ways that our community ensured that their voices and the voices of others would be informed and heard in this election, including many of our students who voted for the first time. In addition to convening and welcoming panel discussions and other events, we actively encouraged and supported voter registration, voter education and transportation to the polls. I am tremendously proud of the manner in which our community lives true to our core value of engagement that inspires positive change.

As with any election, some members of our community have celebrated the election winners while others are less enthusiastic about the results. For many, this election was especially significant and charged with emotion. It is in these times that we must remain true to the exceptional sense of family that we have created here at Kent State. In these currents of change, we are called to reaffirm and exemplify our values of respect, kindness and purpose in all that we do.

These and other core values and commitments do not change or shift as economic, political or social movements change. They define who we are and what we stand for as a community that aspires to better our society. We remain champions of diversity of culture, beliefs, identity and thought, holding ourselves to the highest of standards where disrespectful treatment of one another has no place in our caring community. It is important that we embrace Kent State's distinctive responsibility to convene and engage in the world's most important and sometimes difficult conversations — those that expand our world view as we experience the opinions of others that are different from our own. We know that our democracy depends on this kind of civic and civil engagement.

As we move toward the end of yet another outstanding semester at Kent State, it is important that we reflect on the significance of this time and the accompanying imperative to be engaged architects of our collective future. I express deep and abiding appreciation to our entire community whose enduring dedication to inclusive excellence serves as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for positive change.

With best regards,
Beverly Warren

 

 
POSTED: Monday, November 14, 2016 12:06 PM
Updated: Saturday, December 3, 2022 01:02 AM