Election Aftermath: At Hamline, Civility Is More Important Than Ever

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hamline University has released a civility statement that serves as a guide for conversation and debate among the campus community.

"Over the last few years, there has been an erosion in how Americans engage in civil discourse. The pandemic, and social and political unrest, have shed further light on our need to have difficult yet meaningful conversations," said President Fayneese Miller. "At Hamline University we respect and encourage different views. More importantly, we know that to do so, more than rhetoric is needed. We must make it clear to all who we are and what we value and expect from members of our community."

The full statement, issued and approved by the University's Office of Inclusive Excellence, encourages interactions around divisive issues while setting expectations for behavior. Members of the Hamline community provided feedback, edits were made, and the statement was finalized in early October.

"Hamline University is dedicated to intellectual inquiry in its full depth, breadth, abundance, and diversity. It is committed to academic freedom and celebrates free expression for everyone. The University embraces the examination of all ideas, some of which will potentially be unpopular and unsettling, as an integral and robust component of intellectual inquiry. It is expected that the expression of ideas will be done in ways that are respectful of others and which do not include personal vilification based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, disability, or political affiliation. Hamline University encourages all, whether it be on campus or off, to foster a respectful and inclusive community defined by a concern for the common good by developing relationships and through a culture that promotes the rights, safety, dignity, and value of every individual. A university community embracing these common values, consisting of students, faculty, staff, the Board of Trustees, and external constituents, is vital to the pursuit of excellence in research, scholarship, and creative activity."   

The statement originated in several campus-wide conversations in the fall of 2019. During the discussions, Miller rejected "cancel culture" and stressed that respectful interaction can drive needed change. Afterward, a university committee drafted a statement in support of free speech that also reflected the values of Hamline University. 

The Office of Inclusive Excellence, which is led by David Everett, Ph.D., associate vice president of Inclusive Excellence, worked in consultation with Distinguished University Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies David Schultz.

SOURCE Hamline University