[written by Jon Ross and Chris Smith, students enrolled in Union Institute and University's PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies program; sent October 18, 2011]
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 neither 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 foundations
of a responsible market economy.
Like other social movements of our
times and those 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. It has not only provided a forum for
responsible debate but for the discussion of tangible legislative offerings that
show promise for addressing some of the inequities – particularly those that
have accelerated in recent years – 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, educators, 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 this past 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, show
its leadership by providing 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
UIU Cohort Ph.D. student
UIU alumni;
Masters of Education (VT), ‘10
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