The Case for Caring and Communication

Once again in recent national events on college campuses we see the tragic outcome of the failure of human connection and the renewed argument for taking care of one another in the wake of such events. The fatal shootings at Virginia Tech yesterday are a reminder of the fragile nature of our safety and security in an uncertain world and a reminder to thank those who work on this campus to identify and respond to threats to safety. We can never do enough in this regard; I appreciate all of the good work of the group charged with this responsibility and the DPS staff for their thoughtful approach to their work with students, faculty, and staff.

Events on other campuses – from the unfolding Penn State scandal to the recent use of pepper spray at UC Davis to disband a peaceful student protest – raise the critical question of the moral judgment of our campus leaders, as identified in this week’s cover story in The Chronicle of Higher Education, entitled “Anger Darkens Mood on Campuses.” Once again, we are reminded of the importance of looking out for one another and of speaking out for safety, trust, and caring as the basis of human relationships. Please take a moment today to thank someone for a kindness or act of caring that might otherwise go unnoticed or unacknowledged. And thank you all for the many kindnesses that I see here every day.