Dear Bobcat Students:
I am often asked, “What keeps you up at night?” The answer is easy – I worry constantly about the health, well-being, and safety of our students and the campus community. I am writing to you today because of a growing concern I have.
Texas State has a long history of peaceful student activism that has balanced the value of free speech while adhering to the policies that help to uphold it. While some may not have liked what was being said, there was an understanding that uncomfortable speech was acceptable so long as everyone followed the expressive activity rules.
Unfortunately, the deterioration of behavior that we have seen at schools across the country has crept onto our campus. Not always, but some of our events in the past year included unacceptable behavior (e.g., ripping signs and flags out of people’s hands, screaming in people’s faces, pushing and shoving people, taking protests into classrooms and business spaces, and spitting on people or their signs). Actions like these are in direct opposition to our shared values, and the fear they foment damages our community at its core.
The advent of social media has exacerbated the situation because it allows people (including those who are not members of our community) to send abhorrent messages directly to our students. Often under the veil of anonymity, these vile messages serve only to intimidate and harass.
When I met recently with leaders of our Black student organizations, for example, they showed me some of the messages they had either received directly or that they saw posted about them on social media. Those words were cruel and despicable, to say the least.
I accepted their invitation to join them at the Stallions the following day. As I listened to them, I was grateful for the respect and support they were shown by those who gathered around. But I was even more encouraged by the willingness of these young leaders to speak on behalf of their fellow students. If you weren’t there, you missed hearing these touching words from one of our students:
“I was afraid to speak today. But I also believe God gave me a voice, and that purpose is greater than my fear. My voice isn’t just for me; it’s for my community, for students and faculty who feel silenced, and for those who came before us who had to fight to even step foot on this campus … My mother once wrote, ‘I want the challenges my daughter faces to be limited to the rigor of her coursework, not the climate she encounters.’ Yet here we are, facing a climate of hate that overshadows our right to learn freely.
I chose Texas State because it felt welcoming and full of opportunity. And while I’m grateful for so many positive experiences throughout my four years here, the climate I’ve been forced to endure this past year has overshadowed that. I stand here with a mix of emotions; anger, fear, but also hope. Hope that today we choose courage over silence. Hope that leadership chooses action over words. And hope that each of us here chooses to not only fight for ourselves, but for the generations who will walk this campus after us. We’re not asking for everything to be perfect. We’re asking to feel safe.”
It was humbling to hear her words, because I wish I could be so eloquent. They remind us that courage is not defined by the absence of fear. It is defined as the willingness to act in the face of fear.
Let’s use this moment to begin to make that hope a reality. I cannot control anyone else’s actions – neither can you. But we can decide how we will act within our sphere of influence, and how we will respond to others who fall short of our expectations. We MUST decide now to courageously seek ways to lift others up while simultaneously stifling the cruel cowards who aim to tear others down.
I ask that all Bobcats rise to the occasion to stand with each other. We cannot allow the inappropriate behaviors of the few to become the “new normal” for the many. Living in a civil society demands that we acknowledge that others, their property, and their well-being are as valuable to us as our own. Just because we can say or do something hurtful doesn’t mean that we should. We must hold ourselves (and each other) to a higher standard – one that cultivates a culture of integrity, civility, compassion, and respect. Eliminating fear on our campus will depend on each of us.
I’m aware that other students and organizations faced similar challenges these past couple of weeks. As president, it is my duty to stand beside all our students. If you need me, I am here for you. And it’s not just me. Students, you are surrounded by faculty, staff, and administrators who have dedicated their careers to serving you. They believe in what Texas State is doing, and they are creating a campus that is focused on your success. I have asked Dr. Cynthia Hernandez (Vice President for Student Success) to send you a reminder of the student resources created for you. I encourage you to take advantage of them – because no Bobcat should face this time alone.
This is a pivotal moment for our university, my friends. For 126 years, the TXST story has been about improving the lives of all who come here. Now, more than ever, we are called to protect that legacy by ensuring that every Bobcat feels safe, respected, and welcome. You all belong here.
Sincerely,
kdamp