Dear COLLEGE OF WOOSTER COMMUNITY FOR A FREE PALESTINE,

As individuals living in an imperfect world, it is natural to be horrified by violence, death and destruction, whether perpetrated locally or in places far away. This is true, whenever and wherever such events occur. Nevertheless, the role of the College as an institution is not to convey or sponsor stances on particular issues but to provide an environment in which we can learn, discuss, and debate issues of public concern as a community.

The Scot’s Key’s Civility Statement sets forth the core values of the College community – namely that all members of the College community “…pledge to stand united against hate by creating and contributing to safe learning environments in our community." (Community Values and Principles, The Scot’s Key).  Consistent with these values and the College’s commitment to Non-Discrimination, the College does not tolerate expressions of hate, discrimination, or harassment regardless of the target, (Non-Discrimination Policy). The College, through the office of Religious and Spiritual Life, similarly provides spaces for diverse voices of many religions and belief systems to be heard.

The College of Wooster is committed to academic freedom. Debate, discussion, testing of theories and ideas, and disagreement in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding are at the core of what we do as a College. The code of civility that binds together our community necessarily includes respecting the right to disagree: “We respect and value the commonalities and differences among us – celebrating the uniqueness of each individual and recognizing it takes all people to make a college community” (Community Values and Principles, The Scot’s Key).

Similarly, as a community we also collectively recognize that “The College of Wooster exists with the express purpose of educating its students in the liberal arts tradition. This means, among other things, providing and sustaining the best possible structured, intentional educative experience that will play an optimal role in the intellectual and moral development of all of those who undertake that experience. As we are dedicated to this mission, we are thus dedicated to the conditions requisite for its success including both the value of freedom of expression and inquiry and the value of an inclusive and equitable environment in which all members of the community are full and equal participants granting mutual respect to one another” (Statement on Freedom of Expression and Inquiry, Community Values and Principles, The Scot’s Key). Therefore, my role as president is to nurture and ensure such an environment for others to learn, debate, and test ideas without excluding anyone or making them feel unwelcome in their differences.

As I have recently explained and now reiterate, the College’s commitment to maintaining an inclusive and equitable community extends to College resources including email distribution lists. The College’s all-faculty, all-staff, and all-student email distribution lists (known as ZWD lists) exist to convey important, timely information related to college business, such as employment, official functions, requirements, emergencies, and college-sponsored events. Because no one can opt out from receiving messages sent via the ZWD lists, messages that are unrelated to college business could cause some members of our campus community to be offended or feel excluded. Public silence by those who receive emails on non-college business does not necessarily equate with agreement; on the contrary, it can be a symptom of a silencing climate. This is certainly not the climate any of us would want. Therefore, it is not appropriate to transmit them using these lists. Importantly, and consistent with the College’s values, community members have access to alternate communication methods that allow the recipient to opt in and out in order to organize, advocate, persuade, or otherwise express their beliefs and views.  Collectively, we need to work together to ensure that we continue our debates with sharp minds, a love of knowledge and each other, and a desire for a better world that includes nurturing understanding and empathy.

Regarding the College’s investments, the Board of Trustees regularly examines the College’s investment policies and priorities to ensure the College is complying with Ohio’s Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (“UPMIFA”) and making thoughtful choices that support the College’s mission. Faculty may make investment recommendations to the Board of Trustees through their elected representatives on the Conference of Trustees.  Such recommendations should be specific and should be accompanied by a brief explanation of how the recommendation is compliant with the UPMIFA. Investment recommendations that are intended to accomplish an environmental, social, or governance objective must balance the investment’s financial attributes, cost, and fit within the College’s investment portfolio and should directly further the College’s mission and values.

Our community ethos is built on profound respect for learning, affirmation, dissent, and correction or refinement of ideas. “Through the public statement of our mission, our core values and our graduate qualities, The College of Wooster makes a promise to all prospective and incoming students and employees that they will be welcome and respected here. Further, because the College is explicitly and uncompromisingly committed to core values including social and intellectual responsibility as well as diversity and inclusivity, it binds itself to promoting these values by maintaining an environment in which they are maximally realized." (The Value of Inclusivity and Equitable Treatment of All Members of the Community and, Indeed, of all Persons, Community Values and Principles, The Scot’s Key).

May we continue to do so from a perspective of cultural humility and respect for each other.

Sincerely,

Anne E. McCall

President

The College of Wooster