With a stimulating, informative and encouraging "Who Are We?" Week just behind us, immediately followed by one more incident of hateful speech on the temporary graffiti wall, I feel compelled to remind everyone in our University community of our commitment to diversity.
Ohio University has long been dedicated to maintaining an atmosphere in which understanding and acceptance of cultural and racial differences are ensured. Diversity, in fact, is part of the institution's proud heritage. We were one of the first universities in the nation to graduate an African-American, John Newton Templeton, in 1828. And more than a hundred years ago we had our first Black trustee, John Blackburn, who served in 1885-1892. Ohio also graduated its first international alumnus, Saki Taro Murayama of Japan, more than a century ago, in 1895.
Yet, despite a proud heritage of openness and acceptance, it has become painfully apparent that the Ohio University community of today is not as sensitive and respectful as it should be. We are proud to call ourselves a "learning community" but some of us just don't get it! With 9/11 a too recent memory, and the tragic current events in the Middle East, we should be painfully aware that intolerance for cultural differences can separate people and bring about disastrous results. This is not a time for thoughtless, hateful speech and actions; it should be a time of seeking ways to enhance intercultural and international learning.
Diversity is an advantage for us. We in a university community have a wonderful opportunity to learn from the differences among us -- differences in national origin and ethnic background, differences in the color of our skin, differences in sexual preference, gender or religion. It is not satisfactory or even acceptable simply to tolerate such differences because by doing so we miss a great opportunity to learn. Fostering the value of diversity is not something we do to be politically correct; it is something we do to help make this a better world.
In the strongest words possible, let me state again that Ohio University is determined morally, emotionally and intellectually to pursue the vision of real community. We are committed to equal opportunity for all people and we have pledged to take direct and proactive measures to achieve that goal. In upholding our commitment, Ohio University absolutely will not tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, bigotry or other forms of disrespect for others' rights. Any such actions are inconsistent with, and detrimental to, the core values we hold essential as an institution of higher learning, among them respect, civility and diversity.
I believe that the offenders of these principles among us are few, but I also believe that we are not the community we want to be if we turn our heads when incidents of hate occur on our campus. I call on all students, faculty and staff of this proud university to uphold our commitment to a just and diverse community and to take a leadership role in ensuring an atmosphere of equality.
Robert Glidden
President, Ohio University
