I am very grateful for the efforts of many groups on campus to help prepare our community for this week’s election. Seeing students, faculty and staff sharing information about voting, heading to the polls, and watching results together in Sayles, Hasenstab, and Olin was a heartening demonstration of democracy at work. That work continues as we all process the results, and the implications for ourselves, the communities we care about, and the nation.
As we all recognize, we are living in a sharply polarized political landscape, with significant divergences in goals, values, and beliefs. These divergences would present challenges regardless of which side succeeded in winning the presidential election. In the years ahead, we as individuals and as an institution will need to work tirelessly in support of the values that matter to us.
Some members of our community may feel particularly vulnerable in light of proposed policy changes that would impact specific identities or populations, including those who are LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, or immigrant-origin, and I know that the Carleton community is eager to offer support. Carleton will maintain its steadfast commitment to supporting undocumented, immigrant, and international students, and ensuring that our campus is an inclusive and welcoming space for all. As a member institution of the Presidents Alliance on Immigration and Higher Education, we will continue to advocate for policies that support Dreamers and enhance access to higher education for displaced and refugee students. Undocumented students can access up-to-date information and resources online, and all students should feel free to be in touch with the Office of Inclusion, Equity and Community, the Dean of Students Office, Student Health and Counseling, and the Chaplain’s office for additional support. The Division of IEC will host a Community Time in the Chapel Lounge from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. today.
Carleton will also seek to be a strong voice in support of higher education in the face of proposed changes that could result in heightened pressure on colleges to abandon diversity initiatives of the kind we have embraced at Carleton; the elimination of the accrediting agencies that ensure the quality of colleges and universities like ours; or the dismantling of the Department of Education, which handles federal financial aid that assists many of our students. On a broader level, I hope the commitments to our local community that play a central role in our strategic direction and our new sustainability framework can help to counter the positioning of colleges and universities as elite and out of touch institutions.
Providing the kind of broad liberal arts education that results in thoughtful and engaged citizens has never been more important. I feel fortunate to be part of a community that cares deeply for all its members, and is dedicated to this critical work.
Featured in Carleton Today, November 7, 2024