Civil unrest, March 27, 2024

Dear Friends, Earlier today, the students who have been protesting in College Hall vacated the building. We are pleased to report that College Hall will reopen for regular student and administrative services at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Faculty and staff who have offices in the building are welcome to return at noon today. As an educational institution, we believe that dialogue and a willingness to listen to others’ perspectives are essential to learning. Indeed, the sit-in ended through many conversations among those inside and outside of College Hall. And the learning continues. Our conversations on the topics the students and others raised are just beginning. It is clear to me that as a community, we are a work in progress. Perhaps we will always be so, as people come and go from here, and as our plan Toward Racial Justice reminds us, “we are called to reflect on our past and present to build a more just and inclusive future.” Through it all, our purpose as an educational institution requires the assumption that even when we are most sure of ourselves, we must leave the door open to discover more. If we are to become the compassionate and resilient community to which we aspire, there are many ways we must deepen our ability to listen to each other. This experience has shown the range of our perspectives about war, about what defines community and generosity, and about boundaries and connections. We have learned that while we may be aligned in our desire for a better world, we differ on the ways to achieve it. I have been so impressed to see Smithies share a purpose, discover a sense of belonging, and use their voices with the aim of creating a better world. I have also been impressed by those Smithies who have stepped forward to share their frustrations with a campus culture that might be better in the future. And I am impressed with those of you who have realized that your gifts are better shared in small groups—supporting friends who find themselves with differing experiences, teaching classes, and participating in the life of the college according to each of your talents, charges, and strengths. We can decide to interpret the protests of this year as a time of learning for all of us, of taking responsibility for ourselves and others, and of recognition that sometimes our efforts to bring about social change take longer than expected and have unintended consequences. In the months and years ahead, we will continue to consider how we take the tools at our disposal and within our charges to contribute to good in the world. In the weeks ahead, students who have violated college policies and the Code of Student Conduct will be brought before the College Conduct Board and assessed according to its process. It is my hope and expectation that we will consider outcomes that allow mutual restoration and restitution. The liberal arts education we offer at Smith does not guarantee intellectual comfort, but we do seek to create brave spaces for civil discourse, and we owe each other the opportunity to engage in such discourse, allowing us to learn from one another within a community of mutual respect even when we disagree. This is our charge as we find solutions to the world’s greatest challenges while we live together in community. Let us encourage each other on the way, President Sarah