The Inaugural Year of Nancy Cantor: Explore the Soul of Syracuse

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Baring the Soul of Syracuse
Building the Creative
Campus

Baring the Soul of Syracuse

University Open Forum Monday, March 28, 2005
Hendricks Chapel
3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Introduction

As we celebrate the inauguration of Nancy Cantor as the new Chancellor and President of Syracuse University, we must recognize the major accomplishments of this University during previous eras and focus on the promise of even greater achievement in the future. Our reflections about the University would be incomplete, however, without paying equal attention to its historical and ongoing imperfections. We need to acknowledge that racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, and other discriminatory actions have occurred at this University over the years. Individuals have caused some of these actions, and the existence or absence of institutional policies also have caused or exacerbated such harms.

In addition, studies confirm that workers, educators, and students who are mistreated in institutional workplace and educational settings frequently develop physical, psychological, and emotional health problems. Such negative experiences impact how an individual feels about the workplace or learning environment and affect how well she or he can carry out job responsibilities or personal goals. People and organizations cannot flourish if people in organizations ignore the damaging consequences of disrespectful and unfair institutional environments. Under such circumstances, the person suffers, and the institution suffers.

Some universities are beginning to recognize that there is tarnish as well as glow on their historical and contemporary behavior. Under the leadership of President Ruth Simmons, for example, Brown University has begun to grapple with the contradictions between slave-based profiteering by its founding family and its mission of educational opportunity, equality, and justice. Likewise, in addition to our yearlong inaugural celebrations, Syracuse University also must recognize and respond to our institutional shortcomings. Indeed, Chancellor Cantor has called for an exploration of the underside of the soul of Syracuse so that the University can take responsibility for its actions.

Program Overview

In response to the Chancellor’s request, the Inaugural Year Committee has organized a program entitled, Baring the Soul of Syracuse, which will have two major components. Part One of Baring the Soul will be an open forum on Monday, March 28, 2005, at Hendricks Chapel, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. This forum will provide an opportunity for members of the campus community to share instances in which they believe the University did not meet its responsibility to its mission to foster community members’ academic, professional and personal growth. The forum also will be an opportunity for the community to make constructive suggestions for improved institutional policymaking regarding the issues that are raised.

This forum is not intended to resolve personal grievances which may stem from individuals’ actions. In addition, the forum is not intended to discourage vigorous debate and disagreement which are the hallmarks of intellectual exchange in academic institutions. By focusing on the institution we do not mean to ignore individual responsibility in causing harm. Rather, we seek to identify the institution’s role in permitting or not addressing the sorts of problems that community members have experienced, whether or not caused by individuals, and to emphasize the institution’s responsibility to maintain a healthy and respectful work and learning environment.

The forum discussion will be organized by themes based on the responses we receive to the brief questionnaire below. Responses to the three questions can be submitted in two ways: 1) sent the completed form to Hendricks Chapel, or 2) complete the form on-line available at http://cstl.syr.edu/soulofsyracuse/bare_Soul.asp. Your feedback will be anonymous, unless you choose to share your name. All responses are due by Friday, March 25, 2005. Please forward your responses whether or not you attend the forum, so that your input is included in the discussion and follow up efforts. At the forum itself, participants will have an opportunity to speak on the issues that have raised concern. Thus, in addition to the written responses, this will be an important listening and learning opportunity for Chancellor Cantor and the rest of the S.U. community.

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Baring the Soul of Syracuse Building the Creative Campus	Baring the Soul of Syracuse University Open Forum Monday, March 28, 2005 Hendricks Chapel 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. Introduction As we celebrate the inauguration of Nancy Cantor as the new Chancellor and President of Syracuse University, we must recognize the major accomplishments of this University during previous eras and focus on the promise of even greater achievement in the future. Our reflections about the University would be incomplete, however, without paying equal attention to its historical and ongoing imperfections. We need to acknowledge that racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, and other discriminatory actions have occurred at this University over the years. Individuals have caused some of these actions, and the existence or absence of institutional policies also have caused or exacerbated such harms. In addition, studies confirm that workers, educators, and students who are mistreated in institutional workplace and educational settings frequently develop physical, psychological, and emotional health problems. Such negative experiences impact how an individual feels about the workplace or learning environment and affect how well she or he can carry out job responsibilities or personal goals. People and organizations cannot flourish if people in organizations ignore the damaging consequences of disrespectful and unfair institutional environments. Under such circumstances, the person suffers, and the institution suffers. Some universities are beginning to recognize that there is tarnish as well as glow on their historical and contemporary behavior. Under the leadership of President Ruth Simmons, for example, Brown University has begun to grapple with the contradictions between slave-based profiteering by its founding family and its mission of educational opportunity, equality, and justice. Likewise, in addition to our yearlong inaugural celebrations, Syracuse University also must recognize and respond to our institutional shortcomings. Indeed, Chancellor Cantor has called for an exploration of the underside of the soul of Syracuse so that the University can take responsibility for its actions. Program Overview In response to the Chancellor’s request, the Inaugural Year Committee has organized a program entitled, Baring the Soul of Syracuse, which will have two major components. Part One of Baring the Soul will be an open forum on Monday, March 28, 2005, at Hendricks Chapel, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. This forum will provide an opportunity for members of the campus community to share instances in which they believe the University did not meet its responsibility to its mission to foster community members’ academic, professional and personal growth. The forum also will be an opportunity for the community to make constructive suggestions for improved institutional policymaking regarding the issues that are raised. This forum is not intended to resolve personal grievances which may stem from individuals’ actions. In addition, the forum is not intended to discourage vigorous debate and disagreement which are the hallmarks of intellectual exchange in academic institutions. By focusing on the institution we do not mean to ignore individual responsibility in causing harm. Rather, we seek to identify the institution’s role in permitting or not addressing the sorts of problems that community members have experienced, whether or not caused by individuals, and to emphasize the institution’s responsibility to maintain a healthy and respectful work and learning environment. The forum discussion will be organized by themes based on the responses we receive to the brief questionnaire below. Responses to the three questions can be submitted in two ways: 1) sent the completed form to Hendricks Chapel, or 2) complete the form on-line available at http://cstl.syr.edu/soulofsyracuse/bare_Soul.asp. Your feedback will be anonymous, unless you choose to share your name. All responses are due by Friday, March 25, 2005. Please forward your responses whether or not you attend the forum, so that your input is included in the discussion and follow up efforts. At the forum itself, participants will have an opportunity to speak on the issues that have raised concern. Thus, in addition to the written responses, this will be an important listening and learning opportunity for Chancellor Cantor and the rest of the S.U. community.