Post-Election Values

Dear SAIC Community,

For many of us, I know the past several weeks have been a difficult, painful, and confusing time. Nevertheless, I have been extremely proud to see our community rally around the values that define this institution and join together in condemning all forms of bigotry and hatred.

For our values to endure, we must continuously enact them in our daily lives and our interactions with each other. Today, more than ever before, we must: celebrate the creative spirit and know that its roots lie in our individuality and in our community; believe that there is only strength to be found in our diversity; commit to an equitable, just environment where the voices of all our students, faculty, and staff are valued and respected; and stand firm against conduct that would seek to intimidate or injure any one among us and, in doing so, diminish us all.

These values were on full display at our two Post-Election Community Gatherings, where many students, faculty, and staff spoke eloquently about their personal experiences. One and all, you were supportive and respectful of each other’s perspectives, even when in disagreement. This is the SAIC I know and cherish—deeply intellectual, emotionally empathetic, and powerfully creative. I look forward to working with you to make SAIC even more diverse and inclusive in the future.

I wish you a peaceful, restorative, and productive break.

With hope,
Elissa Tenny