In response to a study that focused on an analysis of data
gathered from Duke's Campus Life and Learning project, black students on this
campus have clearly conveyed through their actions and through their words that
they feel disrespected.
In yesterday's Chronicle, senior academic officers for the university,
Arts and Sciences and the Pratt School responded to the Duke community on this
issue. I urge you to read their informative letter.
After talking to some of these students, listening to
several faculty colleagues, and consulting with members of ECAC, as the chair
of this Council I offer this response:
-- The faculty of Duke are deeply committed to the pursuit of
free inquiry and the freedom of advocacy for all faculty, and for all students.
-- The faculty of Duke are deeply committed to a diverse
student body, faculty and staff.
-- The faculty of Duke do not differentiate students in our
classrooms or in our labs by their race, their gender, their major, or their
GPA. In our eyes, our classrooms are
simply filled with Duke students who are there to learn.
Inevitably, in a diverse and intellectually vigorous
environment, tensions will arise.
Yet, where else but on a university campus can we find the
value in that tension? Where else but on
a university campus does that tension afford us an opportunity to teach
students that a community of open ideas and free inquiry is a community that
will inevitably challenge them to formulate and affirm their own beliefs? Where else but on a university campus can we
find value in those different beliefs?
That value, however, is only discoverable if, in addition to
the inevitable tensions on a campus, there is an enduring commitment to mutual
respect for all members of the university community. With that, I have one closing remark:
-- The faculty of Duke are committed to an environment of mutual
respect in this marketplace of ideas, in this gathering place for students and
faculty of all colors, backgrounds and beliefs.
I urge faculty who have an interest in further discussing
this issue to please contact me or any member of ECAC. We are open to your concerns and your ideas.