Dear Southwestern Community Members,
While I have given many talks about life-long learning over the years, this past week has been a real master class. I was taught Southwestern University lessons in the power of philanthropy and goodness, sincerity and commitment to change, preparedness and positivity rates, and agility and resilience. Many thanks to David Gaines, Bob Dylan, and Patti Smith for starting my week on the right note.
My son and I are still getting used to the Texas heat and to the sound of Texas insects. I have no idea what was in the tree by the garage when I took my dog for a walk on Monday morning, but it made such a racket that I steered clear. I figured that it was the local version of the Whomping Willow. From walking to philanthropy, I was glad later in the day to meet Corbin Robertson Jr., whose family’s generosity has long been dedicated to this University, and pleased to join him in announcing a $100,000 gift to Southwestern that will enable The Caring Place to provide any struggling Georgetown neighbors with increased food access and other services.
In the midst of such hardship and uncertainty, it is uplifting and motivating to see others step forward and do the right thing.
Forward-thinking is absolutely what is preoccupying our days. I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Campus Readiness Task Force and everyone who has devoted countless hours this summer to planning and anticipating the ways that we will need to prepare to commence in the fall. The Task Force brings considerable expertise in addressing how to safely operate during a pandemic. Additionally, they have consulted with medical practitioners, immunologists, and public health specialists to determine best-practice protocols. While the campus appears to be quiet when I am walking it, there is enormous activity within—from the offices of facilities, financial aid, student life, academic affairs, athletics, and many others. This has been a long summer for everyone without the usual opportunities for rest and renewal.
The University understands that despite all of our efforts to secure the campus, we cannot control what is taking place elsewhere in the state, nation, and world. We will closely monitor the evolving circumstances related to COVID-19, along with quickly developing scientific innovations and medical resources, and will make necessary adjustments and contingencies. If there comes a time when it is no longer prudent for, us to maintain an on-campus instructional operation, Southwestern is prepared to move to an on-line format. Workshops have been occurring all summer for faculty on topics related to pedagogy and technology skills for both on-campus and online instruction.
Lessons that I learned from the Great Recession of 2008-09 are to stay on top of the budget and keep it balanced, as well as the utter necessity of maintaining healthy reserves and the critical importance of liquidity. Wherever we wind up financially this academic year will depend upon the choices that we make or external mandates we will follow. Nevertheless, all three of these financial imperatives will be constantly on my mind, and I will communicate the fiscal impact of decisions to you all.
While speaking with a colleague in Connecticut on Tuesday, she pointed out that I moved from one hotspot to another, a unique achievement in a sense. All in all, I would rather pass on unique. But here is what I have learned from my pandemic experience to date—T.M.S.T—test, mask, safe distance, and trace. Do them all and repeat on a constant basis. They are the best safeguards at this time.
In the multiple video conferences that appear on my daily schedule like clouds dotting the blue Texas sky, I am virtually meeting, on an almost daily basis, with members of our Board of Trustees, the senior staff, and the Associated Colleges of the South presidents. This week my meetings included the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference presidents, Glenn Schwab, our director of intercollegiate athletics, and our coaching staff. After a lengthy conversation with the SCAC presidents on Tuesday, there was unanimous agreement that fall sports in our conference would not take place for the first time in their history and in my career. As soon as that announcement was sent over email, we were asked, “what about football?” For SU, football is a different conference, namely the American Southwest Conference, and the decision has not yet been made but I expect soon. I am greatly saddened that the pandemic has forced such a change in our students' lives and well understand how important sports is to our community. We will do everything we can to try and create the possibility of a revised athletics schedule come spring.
On Friday, during our senior staff meeting, we continued to make difficult and wrenching decisions. Due to the current state of affairs, we are trying to severely limit the number of visitors on campus and maintain physical distancing. In view of that, we felt compelled to cancel Fall Family Day, as well as our previously rescheduled October 2020 commencement. These are awful choices to make; however, in the best interest of the safety of the community, they are appropriate actions. We absolutely will have a commencement to honor our 2020 graduates and our work with class representatives will continue as we find another future date.
After a full week, I was enormously saddened to learn Friday evening of the passing of Congressman John Lewis, a titan of civil rights, a believer in nonviolent protest, and the social conscience of Congress. His life was long and yet far too short. When he was a young man, the same age as our students, he was the chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and a speaker at the 1963 March on Washington. He was young, passionate, and impatient for change. He commented in 2018, “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” His words took on a particular timbre when I learned earlier in the week that a statement Xi Chapter posted on their social media accounts noted their membership was resolved to break from their Confederate past and stand firm against bigotry. Their post has become controversial at the Kappa Alpha Order national level in regards to not following their process. These young men are our students, practicing our core values, and publicly acknowledging what is important to them. They are indeed making “good trouble” that will encourage our community to have open discussion about examining the past, re-envisioning how we understand each other, while giving us direction to shape a shared future.
I also received letters during the week from the Diversity Enrichment Committee (DEC) and the Coalition of Diversity and Social Justice (CDSJ) asking that the University deepen and solidify its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism in its policies, practices, artifacts, and symbols. In response, I committed to listening and learning from members of the Southwestern community and alumni, as the University continues to make progress to address the concerns of its diverse students, faculty, and staff. I concluded by saying, “Let’s get to work.”
I will end this long letter as it is time to continue unpacking, by thanking Professor Gaines for sharing with me his account of the evening he met Patti Smith in Stockholm. I have watched the beautiful video of her singing at the Nobel ceremony many times, and after completing my second week at Southwestern University, I have found a newfound poignancy in Dylan’s lyrics:
Oh what'll you do now, my blue eyed son?
What'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm goin' back out 'fore the rain starts fallin'
We will, together, get to work.
Sincerely,
