Bruce's Blog: When should Western take a position?

When should Western Washington University take a public position on an important matter?

Western President Bruce Shepard shares his thoughts in his latest blog post, titled "It's an important matter; why isn't Western taking a public position?"

He begins:

Periodically, well-meaning folks contact me, seeking to have Western take a formal position on a particular issue.

Those making the request are deeply concerned about a cause that has obvious merit. They know their position. Many times, they think it self-evident that Western should formally align with their position. And, almost always, I turn down the request.

Why?

First, out of respect for you who are Western. Taking a position as "Western" means, at some level, taking a position for you. That must be done with great respect for all who are Western. We are a marvelously rich community of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, priorities, and passions.

The basic rule is simple: to ask how directly the issue affects the interests of Western as Western Washington University. And, what defines Western as WWU? In my use of the phrase, it is not the particular political, environmental, or social interests we might hold in common. No, Western is defined by what we have, together and formally, agreed is Western's mission.

So, the pertinent question to ask is not: is the matter directly relevant to something we all care deeply about? The question is: is the matter directly related to Western's effectiveness in pursuit of its mission?

Read the rest of this blog post, and share your comments, on Bruce's Blog.