A Message from the President
October 19, 2023
To the Bard College Community:
In this dark, violent time, in the midst of terror against civilians and armed conflict, emotions have become understandably intense. These include grief, outrage, dismay, and ardent advocacy. And with these strong emotions come a sharpening of rhetoric and the assertion of what may be reductive and simplified views framed in the language of moral right and righteousness.
As a university and college community, the College has an obligation to distance itself from and reject calls for further violence. Rhetoric that justifies and celebrates the terror and death of civilians can create a climate that makes the pursuit of the College’s educational mission exceedingly difficult. It promotes fear and deters open debate and inquiry, undermining the safety of all participants.
I call on all members of the Bard community to work together to prevent such an atmosphere of intolerance, anger, and fear from overwhelming the campus.
Bard College is a community of well over 2,000 students, faculty, and staff. Within that community are individuals with strong allegiances in the conflict in Israel and Palestine. Some have lost family and friends and are in grief. Others are inspired to demonstrate solidarity with differing political entities and actors. The diversity of views and the multiplicity of identities within the Bard community are extraordinary. We need to act to sustain empathy and mutual respect in this diverse educational environment.
No group within the College, using the College’s name, represents the position of the College or carries the College’s endorsement. Our obligation is to learning and critical inquiry. To achieve that objective, civility and empathy are essential. The College does not condone statements that advocate terror and violence directed at civilians. The mission of Bard College is fundamentally opposed to the exercise of violence and the encouragement of violence.
The College’s sole mission is education, and through education, the promotion of a more just and peaceful world. A commitment to teaching and learning in an atmosphere of tolerance, empathy, and respect is at the center of that mission. The College’s obligation is to make all members of the community feel secure and confident that the exercise of the College’s commitment to free expression will not cause them harm or distress. The extreme rhetoric of partisanship can easily create deep unease and anxiety among those who disagree or feel threatened.
In closing and on a personal note, as a Jew in America, I want to express my hope that the Bard community will deter any advertent or inadvertent spread of anti-Semitic or anti-Islamic prejudice.
Cordially,
Leon Botstein
President
Post Date: 10-19-2023
To the Bard College Community:
In this dark, violent time, in the midst of terror against civilians and armed conflict, emotions have become understandably intense. These include grief, outrage, dismay, and ardent advocacy. And with these strong emotions come a sharpening of rhetoric and the assertion of what may be reductive and simplified views framed in the language of moral right and righteousness.
As a university and college community, the College has an obligation to distance itself from and reject calls for further violence. Rhetoric that justifies and celebrates the terror and death of civilians can create a climate that makes the pursuit of the College’s educational mission exceedingly difficult. It promotes fear and deters open debate and inquiry, undermining the safety of all participants.
I call on all members of the Bard community to work together to prevent such an atmosphere of intolerance, anger, and fear from overwhelming the campus.
Bard College is a community of well over 2,000 students, faculty, and staff. Within that community are individuals with strong allegiances in the conflict in Israel and Palestine. Some have lost family and friends and are in grief. Others are inspired to demonstrate solidarity with differing political entities and actors. The diversity of views and the multiplicity of identities within the Bard community are extraordinary. We need to act to sustain empathy and mutual respect in this diverse educational environment.
No group within the College, using the College’s name, represents the position of the College or carries the College’s endorsement. Our obligation is to learning and critical inquiry. To achieve that objective, civility and empathy are essential. The College does not condone statements that advocate terror and violence directed at civilians. The mission of Bard College is fundamentally opposed to the exercise of violence and the encouragement of violence.
The College’s sole mission is education, and through education, the promotion of a more just and peaceful world. A commitment to teaching and learning in an atmosphere of tolerance, empathy, and respect is at the center of that mission. The College’s obligation is to make all members of the community feel secure and confident that the exercise of the College’s commitment to free expression will not cause them harm or distress. The extreme rhetoric of partisanship can easily create deep unease and anxiety among those who disagree or feel threatened.
In closing and on a personal note, as a Jew in America, I want to express my hope that the Bard community will deter any advertent or inadvertent spread of anti-Semitic or anti-Islamic prejudice.
Cordially,
Leon Botstein
President
Post Date: 10-19-2023