For the last three academic years, I have sent a message on Monday mornings to faculty and staff. These “Monday Moments” emails cover a variety of topics — reflections about on- and off-campus events, updates on our work related to the Gustavus Acts Strategic Plan and other important goals, musings on issues where College work intersects with my own life, and other items that impact the life of the College. Since 2017-2018, I have also announced themes for each year. 2017-2018 was Valuing Community and Delivering Excellence, 2018-2019 was Values in Action, and 2019-2020 was Moving Forward Together. Faculty and staff were the main audience for these themes, which helped to guide our work and the important initiatives we moved forward on behalf of the College.
Today, I am pleased to welcome our students to the fold for “Monday Moments” and announce our theme for the 2020-2021 academic year, Community and Justice.
Community and Justice. Both are core values at Gustavus. Both are ideals that we must strive toward every day. Both have been tested in these last six months as we respond to two great challenges — COVID 19 and racial justice.
Community and Justice. All of us — students, faculty, and staff — are in this together. All of us must commit to teaching and learning, to grace and resilience, and to flexibility and understanding. Responding to COVID-19 will continue to challenge us. Striving for racial justice and embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion will continue to challenge us. That’s okay, because even among the uncertainties of the world, even in our discomfort with tough conversations, we are in this together.
Gusties, I am grateful, optimistic, and humbled by the opportunity to work with each of you as we take on these challenges, as we grow together in trust and understanding, and as we respond to whatever changes come our way. Whether we do this work from near or far, in-person or virtually, all of our voices will be a part of the dialogue. This year, let us commit ourselves to community and justice.
Until next week, stay safe and remember that Gusties ROAR!
With respect,
President Bergman