Standing Together Against Hate and Intolerance
A message to the Weinberg College community from Dean Adrian Randolph in response to the events in Charlottesville, Va.
To the Weinberg College community:
I would like to underscore our commitment to the values expressed in the message from President Schapiro and Provost Holloway in response to the events that transpired in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend. In their message, they point to Northwestern’s vigorous defense of academic freedom and our strong stand against all forms of sexism and racism and, especially in the present context, white supremacist words and actions.
Striking a balance between free expression and defining what is unacceptable requires constant vigilance and negotiation. When it comes to the hateful utterances and acts of individuals who associate themselves with the repugnant ideologies of the Ku Klux Klan and Nazism, striking this balance is quite simple for all individuals with a functional moral compass. While pluralism is at the heart of our ethos in the College, to suggest in the face of such blatant racism that there are many legitimate sides to this issue is wrong. It only fans the flames of racism and hate.
I encourage those in our community to debate issues from many perspectives, to feel free to hold opinions that are not popular, but also to take a stand, non-violently and steadfastly, against hateful words and actions that are utterly incompatible with the values of Weinberg College and Northwestern. I also encourage us all to support one another in the face of intolerance.
Adrian Randolph
Dean
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Northwestern University