Dear President Sublett,
As students in Union Institute and
University’s Doctorate of Interdisciplinary Studies program, we share with you Union’s
advocacy of participatory democracy and liberal education. We have chosen to
pursue terminal degrees at Union in part because of the institution’s
commitment to social change and leadership. In this spirit, we write to seek your
endorsement: Union Institute and University should, as an institution, pledge
its support to the Occupy Movement’s core premise: that a distribution of
wealth as grotesque as ours is not sustainable nor just, for institutions of
higher education or anyone else. The Movement, now expanded to hundreds of
cities around the globe, clearly has captured not only the frustration of millions
who face economic hardship but has embraced a growing collective awareness,
that the gross inequities in our economic system subvert not only a basic goal of
fairness and justice in individuals’ economic potential, but dislodge the very notions
of a responsible market economy.
Like other social movements of our
times and other before, the Occupy Movement has tapped into widespread anger
and social discontent. But unlike some,
it goes beyond a “throw the bums out” mentality and has, through conversation
and heightened awareness, helped some individuals develop and put forth
legitimate and reasonable public policy recommendations, and has not only provided
a forum for responsible debate but the discussion of tangible legislative offerings
that show promise for addressing the inequities in our system. In this vein, the Occupy Movement is rooted
in a compelling and unique mix of theory and practice, one that parallels the
work we are supposed to perform, as scholar-practitioners, teachers, and
advocates.
Our experience in the doctoral
program has provided a new understanding of individuals and groups’ active
participation in the public sphere: it is this core of activism that may best
define our institution, including our renowned Martin Luther King Jr. Studies
program. Bearing these unique aspects of Union’s educational experience, we have
watched closely, and continue to study, the Occupy Movement. In fact, just Sunday,
President Obama suggested that were he alive, Dr. King would be in support of
the Occupy Movement, as it incorporates many of the
initiatives he was pursuing when he was assassinated, and because it represents
peaceful resistance and civil disobedience.
We ask that Union Institute and
University quickly and efficiently make public comment on the Occupy Movement.
We challenge Union to publicly vouch support for those protesting a grossly unequal
and unjust distribution of wealth. Union
should make use of this important global public event, and, at the very least,
provide a forum for discussion among students and faculty, and with the
communities in which it has campuses. Assuming the University is
amenable, we would be happy to facilitate dissemination of information and
dialogue about this issue across our community, including the Cohort Ph.D.
program, in whatever ways are appropriate.
We thank you for your time and
attention, and look forward to your collaboration.
Regards,
Christopher Smith
Jon Ross
current students, Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies program
Union Institute and University
No comments:
Post a Comment