Campus Engagement in the Fall
Dear Members of the Trinity Campus Community,
We look forward to the new academic year and to engaging as a liberal arts community of “bold, independent thinkers who lead transformative lives.”
Trinity begins its third century as an academic institution clear about its mission. To fulfill that mission, we must foster and protect an atmosphere that is conducive to free expression and the examination of truth—even when we disagree passionately—without fear of harm or retribution. We affirm our community values when we foster opportunities for all students to develop their intellect and moral character while respecting the social norms that govern community life. The Student Life team will send a reminder to students about these norms later this week.
During the past year, our community held important conversations about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. From last fall through this summer, we have met with student representatives from various groups, including those expressing concerns of the Jewish community, those advocating pro-Palestinian positions, and those calling for political statements from the College. We also have heard throughout our discussions a willingness to listen, to learn, and to debate complex issues.
As we move into the fall, we will create more opportunities to learn from one another, to engage in dialogue across differences, and to model the community we wish to be.
Building Community
We are planning several initiatives to promote an inclusive sense of community and to engage with one another across differences. These efforts will include the following:
•Based on feedback from a student survey last spring, the Campus Climate Incident Response Team will introduce the Dialogue Project, a series of small-group workshops and conversations to facilitate informed debate and civil discourse. An announcement will go out shortly.
• The Bridging Divides series also will continue this year, bringing together different perspectives and viewpoints, with the goal of promoting empathy and seeking common ground.
• As always, we will promote nonpartisan civic engagement, encouraging voter participation and hosting community gatherings at key points in this fall’s election process.
Investing for Impact
Among other topics about which we will engage this fall is the College’s endowment, how it works, and our investment principles and strategies. We have a few pertinent happenings planned:
• In October, to foster greater understanding, we will host a webinar with a panel of experts who will talk about “investing for impact.” The panel will focus on how organizations approach responsible principles for investing endowments and the complexities of generating long-term returns that support an institution’s mission and future. The webinar will be open to the full Trinity community.
• Members of the Investment Subcommittee of the Board of Trustees will meet with a variety of student representatives to hear concerns about disclosure and divestment. The subcommittee members will report to the full board, which holds fiduciary responsibility for the financial health of the College.
• To further promote transparency into Trinity’s endowment, we will launch a new website that presents more detailed information about Trinity’s endowment, how it’s invested, and its performance.
Supporting All Students
We are always grateful for the outstanding support that our faculty and staff, in their roles as educators and mentors, show to students. This fall, numerous offices are working to coordinate and strengthen support for all students. These efforts include the following:
• Under the leadership of the Chaplain’s Office and the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life, we are committed to supporting students from all backgrounds and identities. Within the coming weeks, we also expect to identify finalists in the hiring searches for a director of Muslim life and the next director of Hillel and Jewish life to support those communities and to promote better cross-cultural understanding on our campus.
• The Offices of Student and Community Life and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion continue to collaborate and join the Chaplain’s Office in providing resources and programmatic support for all student groups.
At this moment in history, campuses around the country again are grappling with the impact of world events, the rhetoric surrounding them, and the importance of a presidential election. Although we may have disagreements about steps we can take, I am confident that if we remain guided by our academic mission and act in the spirit of community, our level of engagement will be powerful.
As a residential college community, we have the opportunity to model how to live and learn together, how we respond to the moment, and how we care for one another. This is how we wish to be remembered.
Sincerely,
Joanne Berger-Sweeney
President and Trinity College Professor of Neuroscience
