Dear Tulane Community:
By almost any measure, Tulane has never been stronger as a university. In terms of the impact and scope of our research, the transformative power of our educational mission, the healing capacity of our medical care, and the breadth and influence of our groundbreaking scholarship, our momentum is palpable. Probably no university in the country has made more gains in the traditional metrics of university excellence as Tulane has over the last decade, including research citations, funding, admissions selectivity, alumni support, student satisfaction and more.
As a result of this success, universities like Tulane, to a greater degree than many other institutions, have the ability to move our society forward in a positive direction. The value of our research is obviously central to our collective future. So is our focus on furthering education that expands the minds of students and other members of our community, thereby increasing their ability to think independently and contribute to the betterment of our world.
Crucial to our mission of positively impacting society is expanding the opportunity for members of the Tulane community to engage meaningfully with one another over the pressing issues of our time. Improving the level of reasoned dialogue and debate on our campuses is vital to maintaining academic excellence, which is our core value. Conversely, failing to support an intellectual environment that welcomes varied viewpoints and encourages open debate undermines all of our academic goals.
Promoting civil discourse is also vital to the future of our country and our democracy during this moment of deep division. Whatever their political viewpoint, most Americans believe that, as a nation, we are not engaging in reasoned debate on many issues. Universities, in particular, have been criticized for not supporting free speech and true engagement across differences. We need to respond to such criticisms by becoming a leader in academic excellence that is fueled by intellectual debate, thoughtful inquiry and robust dialogue. We must resist the folly of becoming an echo chamber absent the rich variations of opinion and perspectives so crucial to discovery and innovation in all fields.
This is why today we are announcing a series of university-wide initiatives designed to enhance our commitment to civil discourse at Tulane and more broadly. These initiatives will be supported and coordinated through the Tulane Center for Civil Discourse, which will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, public engagement and dialogue led by faculty and students from schools across the university. The Center will offer opportunities for every member of the Tulane community to participate in constructive dialogue in which they will learn and grow and through which they will be inspired and inspire others. This effort will bring faculty, students, staff and community members together in advancing civic engagement, respectful debate and applied research that will strengthen the fabric of New Orleans and society as a whole.
Activities of the Center will include supporting classes and workshops on civil discourse and hosting nationally known speakers who represent a wide array of viewpoints. Other initiatives the Center will support will include a common book reading and discussion project, grants that support civil discourse across the disciplines, appointment of faculty who specialize in civil discourse and more.
The Center for Civil Discourse is destined to thrive at Tulane given our relational culture and collaborative nature. It is another opportunity for Tulane to take a leading role in seeking knowledge for good, in forming the active citizens of tomorrow and in finding a path forward to deeper understanding and community. The Center’s purpose will not be to advocate positions, but to build the skills and instill the values of open inquiry and free expression among the members of our university.
We encourage each of you to write to civildiscourse@tulane.edu with your ideas for speakers or programs that will further the Center’s efforts. Our ultimate goal is to increase Tulane and society’s progress in an area that is so vital to our success as individuals, as a university, and as a nation.
Michael A. Fitts, President
Robin Forman, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Patrick Norton, Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer/Treasurer
