Dear Members of the UMBC Community,
While the outcome of yesterday’s presidential election is not yet known, the thoughts, words, and actions of the UMBC community during this very challenging election year fill us with hope for the future of America. At a time of great national division, UMBC students, faculty, staff, and alumni are demonstrating leadership in civic engagement by thinking deeply about the issues of our time, informing public discourse, and advocating for their personal beliefs with respect for all.
This is precisely the sort of moral leadership America needs from its universities. Higher education institutions have an important role in listening to and learning from diverse perspectives. We can all take pride in being recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a Community-Engaged University and in the work of our Center for Democracy and Civic Life. The Center’s work is an important element of UMBC’s commitment to inclusive excellence.
The Latin text on the Great Seal of our nation also speaks to our shared value of inclusive excellence: E Pluribus Unum—Out of many, one. Despite our differences, our individual and collective ability to thrive ultimately depends upon pulling together as a society. It is not about one person, it is about all of us. Regardless of our political position or our feelings about this election season, we must move forward with humility, reach out to others with different points of view, and build on the needs and values we have in common.
We encourage you to attend one of the Together Beyond events organized by the Center for Democracy and Civic Life in partnership with the campus community, or invite others to gather in virtual or safe ways for conversation. The Center’s website provides excellent suggestions for facilitating conversations that build bridges.
We also know that this election and uncertainty about its outcome, combined with the cumulative effect of coping through the pandemic and the disproportionate impact of continued injustice, weigh heavily on many of us. Over the coming days, it is especially important to approach one another with compassion and understanding, and to seek support if you feel stressed or unsafe. There are many helpful resources available for students as well as faculty and staff.
Finally, moral leadership is about serving. As people with the advantage of education and opportunity, we have a responsibility to help those with the greatest needs. As the late Toni Morrison said: “If you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.”
While presidential elections occur just every four years, we have the power to make a difference in the lives of others every day. Even after the election results are known, we encourage you to “cast your whole vote” by investing your time, talent, and other resources in building and sustaining strong, inclusive, and just communities.
President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous
President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous
