Welcome

President George Bridges 

Good morning.

Welcome to Whitman’s symposium on difference and diversity, Unfolding Identities. We cannot think of a better way to celebrate this holiday commemorating the birth of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The events and activities held today represent the work of many students, faculty and staff members.

Before proceeding, I would like to thank Professor of Physics Dayle Smith, Director of Student Activities Andrea Ramirez, students Nani Gilkerson and Jyotsna Shivanandan who co-chaired the symposium planning committee; Associate Dean of Students: Intercultural Programs Mukulu Mweu, and Events Assistant in the President's Office Maggi Banderas, for behind the scenes work that made this day possible.

As you can see from your programs, many students, faculty members and staff will be leading today’s sessions.

The symposium sessions these individuals have organized are imaginative, informative and offer us unprecedented opportunities for learning more about the many differences and identities of people at Whitman, but also those in our larger society.

The issues that we address today are issues that our society routinely faces but that many of us and our political leaders conveniently ignore.

We ignore the fact that disparities in wealth in our society have become for most Americans  economically insurmountable.

We ignore the fact that racial and ethnic disparities in employment, education, health care and political power are egregious, with some racial and ethnic minorities more likely to serve time in prison over the course of a lifetime than attend college.

We ignore the fact that in some occupations women receive wages less than those of men even though they hold similar positions of employment

We ignore the fact that gays, lesbians and transsexuals are targets of overt bigotry, from being the objects of denigrating humor to acts of physical abuse and violence.

Finally, we ignore the fact that persons whose bodies, perceived physical or mental abilities or personal appearances are different are stigmatized without regard to their actual and potential contributions to our community and society.

As a community dedicated to learning, Whitman cannot and will not ignore these facts, nor will we ignore the pervasive relevance of difference in our society.

Each of us should view today’s symposium as an opportunity and an integral part of our Whitman education and development.

What might we learn from this symposium?

We can begin by learning about one another and our differences.

We can learn about the challenges of living in this community, as someone who is white; as a person of color; as a woman; as a man; as a person from a working class family; as a Jew, Muslim or Christian; as a person who is gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual or transsexual.

We can learn about historical privileges and the responsibilities that privileges convey to those of us who come from privileged backgrounds, including how our actions and words may offend or marginalize others in ways that may be inadvertent.

We can learn about the stereotypes of others each of us may hold and our own levels of cultural competence in interacting with persons who may be much different. What assumptions do we make about others in questions that we ask, that actually offend?

• What do you mean you can’t afford to go out – it won’t cost that much.
• You’re a person of color, what do people like you think?

Questions such as these reflect ignorance and unfounded assumptions about others that may offend more than they may inform.

 

We can also learn about the fears and frustrations that accompany the prospect of even discussing our differences, of being labeled elitist, racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, or bigoted when our intentions and motives may, in fact, be just the opposite.

We can learn about this college and about how we might re-think aspects of our programs that, regardless of the individuals on campus, heighten tension over identities or aggravate our differences.

Ultimately, this symposium reflects our commitment to the mission of Whitman College and our commitment to one another in advancing our understanding of our differences. It is with great pride that I look forward to today’s sessions with you and to the transformative experience they offer each one of us.

Thank you.