Working Together
Dear, faculty, staff, and students,
I am so grateful to the many students, staff, and faculty who have met with me recently during my expanded office hours. As spring break approaches, I am writing both to share some thoughts about what I heard during these sessions and at other moments and also to let you know several of the important steps we are taking to address some concerns, improve the conversation on campus, and lean into our identity as an educational institution.
I heard from many of you that these last few weeks on campus have been really challenging and upsetting for a variety of reasons. I heard that it felt increasingly difficult to have conversations with those holding different views. I heard that some of you feel uncomfortable speaking up or even asking questions, while others describe frustration with a sense that there is only one correct way to address shared concerns. Others described times when they did speak up or act, but then felt misunderstood, misconstrued, or silenced. I also heard from those longing for a greater sense of belonging, feeling their identities or beliefs were not fully respected and sometimes even attacked. This was particularly difficult to hear and is something we must all work to change.
I continue to believe that the best path forward is for us to engage more authentically and constructively with one another, to appreciate our different experiences and points of view, and to work together with generosity and humility to build and sustain community here at Bowdoin.
As we approach this work ahead, we will engage our shared governance structures and draw on the expertise and dedication of our faculty and staff colleagues and the perspectives of leading experts outside our community.
Some of this work is already underway or will soon begin, and it includes:
I am so grateful to the many students, staff, and faculty who have met with me recently during my expanded office hours. As spring break approaches, I am writing both to share some thoughts about what I heard during these sessions and at other moments and also to let you know several of the important steps we are taking to address some concerns, improve the conversation on campus, and lean into our identity as an educational institution.
I heard from many of you that these last few weeks on campus have been really challenging and upsetting for a variety of reasons. I heard that it felt increasingly difficult to have conversations with those holding different views. I heard that some of you feel uncomfortable speaking up or even asking questions, while others describe frustration with a sense that there is only one correct way to address shared concerns. Others described times when they did speak up or act, but then felt misunderstood, misconstrued, or silenced. I also heard from those longing for a greater sense of belonging, feeling their identities or beliefs were not fully respected and sometimes even attacked. This was particularly difficult to hear and is something we must all work to change.
I continue to believe that the best path forward is for us to engage more authentically and constructively with one another, to appreciate our different experiences and points of view, and to work together with generosity and humility to build and sustain community here at Bowdoin.
As we approach this work ahead, we will engage our shared governance structures and draw on the expertise and dedication of our faculty and staff colleagues and the perspectives of leading experts outside our community.
Some of this work is already underway or will soon begin, and it includes:
- A review of all existing discrimination and harassment policies.
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Enhanced support and additional training to assist community members in responding to reports of discrimination and harassment.
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Opportunities for expanded education and dialogue on combating antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate.
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A broadening of campus community participation in emergency planning exercises.
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A new committee to address policies on postering, building use, and demonstration, sponsored by SVP and Dean for Student Affairs Jim Hoppe and SVP and Dean for Academic Affairs Jen Scanlon. Dean Hoppe and Dean Scanlon will work with the Committee on Governance and Faculty Affairs, Bowdoin Student Government, and the Staff Advisory Council to select staff and faculty co-chairs, form the committees, and outline the process.
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The creation of a new program for campus dialogue.
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A campus-wide series on contemporary challenging topics that will include talks and interactive sessions to encourage respectful engagement on issues, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
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Employee dialogue opportunities hosted by the Bowdoin College Ombuds in units and teams across campus as requested. These sessions will help participants better communicate with each other through challenges and assist in improving how faculty and staff work together.
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An “ask us anything” series. This will be an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to meet as a community with senior officers of the College. These conversations will invite the community to come together to ask questions about multiple areas of campus life with a focus on encouraging dialogue on challenging subjects. The first in this series, on Monday, March 31, in Main Lounge, Moulton Union, will be facilitated by Jen Scanlon, Jim Hoppe, and Benje Douglas.
I know we can do this work with courage, humility, and kindness. The reason I believe we can do this—even if incompletely and imperfectly, even with bumps along the way—is because I have seen that courage, humility, and kindness demonstrated in so many public and private acts across campus. It is one of the reasons I love being part of this community.
I look forward to continuing this work with all of you.
Best,
Safa