Encouraging respectful engagement

Recent shootings of black men and police officers, as well as the current political climate in the United States, have prompted a challenging and often divisive national conversation and concerns about respect and safety for all.

60 members of the Lehigh community—faculty, staff, students and administrators—gathered in Linderman Library on Thursday, July 20 for an initial two-hour discussion about how the university might more intentionally encourage thoughtful and respectful discussion and debate within the campus community.

“We thought now would be a good time to get folks involved and see what emerges from a collaborative conversation,” said Provost Pat Farrell. “My expectation is that when our students come back, we will be a place with a lot of challenging conversations, which is great. That’s what universities are for. ... Is there a way we could create some sense of momentum on campus about [how] engagement is expected?”

Engagement and respectful dialogue, said Farrell, is not about agreement, but is instead “being able to say what you think and being able to listen to what other people think, even when sometimes what you’re hearing is not what you’d like to hear.”

Farrell and Henry Odi, vice provost for academic diversity, invited participants to share information about campus activities and initiatives that might support active and respectful engagement. The information gathered will be compiled into a coherent list for the campus community to promote participation. The group also discussed missed opportunities and how the university might support progress with campus climate.

The group plans to meet again prior to the start of the fall semester to continue the conversation and develop a concrete plan to prioritize campus-wide engagement.

“This is not a good semester to be a spectator,” said Farrell. “This is a good semester to really dive in and learn something. ... Collectively, we might try to create that expectation.”