(Editor Note: This is the speech Dr. Golden made at THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS ON THE CHALLENGE OF THE E-ERA FOR HIGHER EDUCATION: "GLOBALIZATION, MULTICULTURALISM, AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY" on March 22, 2002 at Ming Chuan University, Taoyuan Campus, Taipei, Taiwan)
In order to fight against the climate of tyranny, I focused my attention on such crucial matters as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, the right to vote, the right to own property and the right to provide educational opportunities for American and international students. I also focused upon the existence of terrorist training camps, the lack of human rights in certain parts of the world, the oppression of women, the concerns over clean air, pure water, unemployment and hunger. I contemplated the question as to whether government exists for the people or people for the government? I reminded myself of the wars that had been fought, won and lost in the name of religion and the horror-of all wars especially religious wars. On a personal and professional basis, I went zero to the bone and asked myself what price I was willing to pay for my civic rent as servant-leader president of Fontbonne University. My responses are as follows.
First, I believed that the presidents of institutions of higher education in the St. Louis, Missouri area had to make a public stand regarding 9-11 stating our position relative to the campus climate and the future. That statement was carefully crafted and published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch following a think-tank luncheon meeting at Washington University in St. Louis co-hosted by Washington University Chancellor Mark Wrighton and me. The statement read as follows:
We, the leaders of many institutions of higher education
in the St. Louis and southwestern Illinois region, share
the concerns of a nation angered, saddened, and shocked
following the events of September 11, 2001.
We believe that institutions of higher education have a unique role to play in the aftermath of this national tragedy and have, in fact, responded quickly and compassionately to address the concerns generated by the attacks. With the prospects of an uncertain future and in this time of national sadness and mourning, there lies an opportunity for learning and enlightment.
We believe we must promote and reinforce mutual understanding and respect among all those who come to our campuses to live, work, and study. We value the racial, ethnic, and religious diversity in higher education and are committed to maintaining our campuses as center of understanding, respect, and tolerance.
We believe that colleges and universities are called upon to create and communicate new knowledge and understanding to the world in areas such as international politics, ethics, diversity, and processes of globalization. This knowledge can make a major contribution to the kind of global awareness that will help mitigate the tensions that have led to domestic and international violence and terrorism.
We believe that institutions of higher education should prepare our students and our country to understand and cope with the realities of their time and place, however harsh they may be at times. Colleges and universities in the St. Louis area must harness the experience and expertise of their students, scholars, and staff to help prevent atrocities like those of September 11th.
As leaders in higher education, we pledge to prepare our nation's future leaders with the freedom, knowledge, and capabilities to help us all live fully the ideals of democracy and create a better world.7
Second, I believe that in the E-Era, we must place people above planning, process and product. In campus-based operational terms, this means, among other things, the commitment to understand, respect, recruit, admit, support, educate, retain, empower, celebrate, graduate and welcome into the alumni association international students. True celebrations of diversity mean receiving, respecting, valuing, celebrating and loving international students. Presidents must take lead responsibility in these matters. If they do, others will follow their lead and emulate the philosophy of people over product in the E-Era.
Third, such commitment will not happen by chance nor will it be actualized without a carefully considered and implemented plan of action.
Thus, the importance of presidential leadership should be axiomatically clear because presidential leadership, or lack of it, is a critical factor in the life of their institutions.8 Indeed, those of us who have been presidents for a number of years realize the reality of Fred Harvey Harrington's image of the presidency when he describes both the pleasure and pain of the presidency as "splendid agony."9
Looked at another way, Robert Birnbaum wrote "College presidents can be important. When they are perceived by their constituents as competent, legitimate, value-driven, of complex mind, and open to influence, presidents can be a vital source of leadership and a force for institutional renewal."10
(part 2 of 3, to be
continued next week)
7. Statement by College and University Presidents. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 28, 2001.,
8 Carbone, Robert E. Presidential Passages. American Council of Education.Washington, DC, 1981. p.xii.,
9. Ibid, p.xiii.,
10. Birnbaum, Robert. How Academic Leadership Works: Understanding Success and Failure in the Presidency. Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco, CA, 1992, p.151.
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