My Thoughts for Thursday: Events of Jan. 6

January 7, 2021

DEAR DEPAUW FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS,

Yesterday, before the assault on our nation’s capital, I heard Reverend Raphael Warnock, the newly elected and first African American senator from Georgia, reflect that only in America could the son of a woman who picked cotton become a U.S. senator. Essentially, his message conveyed the sentiment that democracy works, despite its imperfections and the fact as a country we are still working to live up to our true ideals.  

At that time, I hoped this uplifting story would be inspiring to all, regardless of political ideology, affirming as it does that in America, someone from humble beginnings in the deep South, whose ancestors were slaves, could become a U.S. Senator. As I looked forward with excitement to returning to work at DePauw, I felt the optimism of the new year and hoped it would be an opportunity for rejuvenation and reconciliation for all of us -- a time for our country and communities to focus on what binds us together and to commit ourselves to ensuring every citizen of our great nation has equitable opportunities for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Then, along with many of you, that optimism was shaken to the core as an angry mob bent on squelching our democracy stormed the hallowed halls of our nation’s capital. My spirit is weary, worn and sad. As one of the commentators on the many news broadcasts to which I listened said, there- just- are- no- words. What happened on January 6, 2021 was well beyond political protest – it was an attack on our most basic, collective and individual rights and an assault on democracy itself.  And how differently this group of individuals were treated than Black Lives Matter protesters who gathered in the same plaza months earlier.

At DePauw we are privileged to be part of the great tradition of liberal arts universities—institutions that have historically focused on exploring the important questions of our humanity and preparing leaders the world needs. In doing so, we encourage diversity of thought, passionate and respectful debate; we support freedom of expression, including the right to dissent and protest; we believe in democratic ideals. However, what we witnessed yesterday was not in any way aligned with those ideals. For the sake of educational mission and our country’s future we must ask ourselves: How and why did our beloved country – even with its flaws – get to such a bad place, on a precipice looming over a dark mob seeking to impose their will and overturn an election?  An election in which more people proudly chose to exercise their right to vote than at any other time our nation’s history?

In order to begin the healing process, we must explore these questions in our own communities, including DePauw. We need to provide space to listen to one another; explore the root of the pain and frustration that so many are feeling; name and confront historical injustices; let truth be our north star; and commit ourselves to doing the hard work that will be required of all of us to move forward. We will have the opportunity to do so in the coming days as part of events connected with our MLK commemoration and DePauw Dialogue, and we should also do so in our conversations and in our classrooms. As a DePauw family, we have a responsibility to be leaders in this struggle to heal our nation and our communities. Let us commit ourselves anew to this work starting here and starting now.

In the words of the late Honorable John Lewis, one of Senator-elect Warnock’s parishioners in Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, “Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term.  Ours is the struggle of a lifetime or maybe even many lifetimes and each one of us in every generation must do our part.”

Thankfully, this attack on our democracy failed. In the days ahead, as our students rejoin us  for 2021 and we plan for our university’s future – we will continue to embrace integrity, honesty, inclusion, and dialogue.

In the meantime, reach out to someone today. At this tumultuous moment in time, we need each other more than ever. 

Sincerely, 

P.S. Additional support is available to our community through our Counseling Services, Spiritual Life, CARE Team, and our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).