I know that this election season has been long and difficult for many people. I hope that by the time this article is published, the results of the general election are finalized and we know how the presidential contest and various propositions were decided. However you describe yourself politically, what matters is that you voted and made your voice heard in our democracy.

Over the next several weeks and months, we will undoubtedly hear stories describing the high amount of stress brought about by intense political beliefs and deep-seated concerns about the direction of our nation and it may seem that there is no unified way forward. But if you are a student of history, you will know that this is not the first time we have felt so divided. There have been earlier elections marked by the same kind of volatile partisanship we see today. There have been other times in our history when the enthusiasms of the campaign season have made it difficult to believe that we would ever come together, listen to each other, reconcile our political differences, and solve the real problems we face as a nation.  

What we learned from those times is that we do have the ability to reconcile but it will take willingness, work, and an honest appraisal about how we got here. I am confident that College of the Redwoods can play an important role in demonstrating the meaningful dialogue that will lead to deep and lasting change. CR’s capacity for open discourse and problem solving and our unshakeable belief in authentic intellectual curiosity will unite us as a community.

It is very clear—now more than ever—that education matters.

In CR’s October 23^rd Education Matters column, I spoke to the issue of race and our engagement with the Equity Alliance of the North Coast to conduct four Implicit Bias and Four Dimensions of Racism sessions. I want to thank Humboldt Area Foundation’s Ron White and Humboldt State University’s Meridith Oram for facilitating these sessions that focus on the concept of race, racial identity, and systemic racism and Alia Dunphy, CR’s Director of the Multicultural Center, for the work she has done to bring these conversations to the district. I also want to thank my colleagues who are participating in these sessions. It takes courage to share their life experiences and vulnerabilities with a group whose perspectives on race are unknown. As a participant, I am finding the experience to be informative and the conversations enlightening, honest, and sincere.

In the weeks since that column was published, I found that it opened up many opportunities to discuss the issues it raised with several of my colleagues. These conversations deepened my appreciation for both the necessity and complexity of conversations about race and underscored a real interest to continue these conversations. 

I am proud that I serve as president of an institution that values viewpoint diversity and is willing to discuss all ideas—even if those ideas go against the prevailing narrative.

In the October 23^rd column, I also mentioned that the Implicit Bias and Four Dimensions of Racism sessions are just one effort we are making to engage in broad conversations about race, equity and systematic racism. Our intention is to do what higher education institutions profess to do -- that is to talk about different ideas with openness, academic curiosity, patience, and intellectual discipline.

To broaden our efforts, and keep the momentum Ms. Dunphy started, CR Professors Sean Thomas, John Johnston, and Natalia Margulis will be hosting ongoing discussions on books and academic writings related to race, identity and scholarship.

One of the first texts we will explore is Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity – and Why This Harms Everybody by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay. The publishers’ notes describe the book this way:

“While acknowledging the need to challenge the complacency of those who think a just society has been fully achieved, Pluckrose and Lindsay break down how this often-radical activist scholarship does far more harm than good, not least to those marginalized communities it claims to champion. They also detail its alarmingly inconsistent and illiberal ethics. Only through a proper understanding of the evolution of these ideas, they conclude, can those who value science, reason, and consistently liberal ethics successfully challenge this harmful and authoritarian orthodoxy—in the academy, in culture, and beyond.”

I am looking forward to participating in these conversations and learning from my colleagues.

CR is also working on a series of podcasts that will invite resident guests on to explore topics such as the history of race, how we have legislated race in the U.S., the complex relationships among higher education, politics, and culture, and how important meaningful diversity is to higher education and society. I invite you to look for these on our website and social media to download and listen to at your convenience.