Student code 2009-2010
Letter from the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Dear Students,
Welcome to Illinois! Welcome to a place of creativity and ideas, a place where you can be yourself—your best self. With that goal in mind, as you begin your classes and activities we want to ask for your help in making Illinois the most inclusive and friendly university in the nation.
Illinois has always stood for the respect and dignity of all people and thought. We are the home of the widest interpretation of free speech and expression. We are the home of spirited debate along the confines of respect and civility. But we do not tolerate acts of intimidation, violence or hate and what threatens one member of our community threatens all of us.
Here we welcome the individual and respect differences. Here we practice the idea that every human life from every single country, state and county has equal value. This is our DNA as a great public university. When our foundation as an inclusive and welcoming campus is threatened we need to unite as a community and collectively stand as one voice in condemnation.
Two years ago we launched Inclusive Illinois: One Campus, Many Voices. (inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu). This campus-wide program focuses on topical and compelling issues surrounding respect for oneself, respect for the rights of others, and respect for the values of the institution. Please check out the web page and be sure to sign a personal or Organization/Unit Commitment Statement supporting Inclusive Illinois.
We challenge students, faculty, and staff to engage in passionate, sometimes painful but always civil, discussions about the way we see others and how others see us.
We may not always understand or agree with each other. In fact, we can guarantee that we won’t but in each instance when we try to listen and respect differing opinions we will come away a more united and inclusive campus.
Best wishes,
Richard Herman, Chancellor
C. Renee Romano, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs