August 22, 2024
Dear Campus Community,
As we begin a new academic year together, I invite you to join me in a campus-wide initiative that embodies the mission and values of Gettysburg College: Conversations for Change.
This program is not only an event series, it is a personal commitment we are making as Gettysburgians to engage deeply and authentically with one another, particularly in a moment in time when we are confronting deep-rooted division in our nation and our world.
Our College’s history calls on us to lead by example. Since our founding in 1832, Gettysburg College has stood for freedom of expression. This is a campus where ideas are debated, where differences are acknowledged, and where a wide range of viewpoints can be voiced, heard, and explored.
In today’s hyperpolarized environment, this commitment to open dialogue is critical.
This year, we will dedicate ourselves to fostering meaningful, productive conversations across difference. These conversations are not merely an academic exercise—they are fundamental to our collective growth, to understanding one another, and to finding compassionate, people-centered solutions to our society’s most pressing challenges.
Here’s what you will experience:
- Inspiring Speakers – We are kicking off Conversations for Change on the first evening of classes. Raj Vinnakota, President of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, will lead our inaugural session. His talk, “Living in Our Community: Conversations for Change,” will equip us with practical strategies to navigate the year ahead. I strongly encourage every member of our community to attend: August 26 at 7 p.m., College Union Building (CUB) Ballroom.
- Workshops and Educational Sessions – Throughout the year, we will offer a variety of workshops designed to build enduring skills for effective dialogue. These sessions will empower students, faculty, and staff to engage in difficult conversations with empathy and understanding.
- A “Commitment to Conversation” Pledge – This fall, we will introduce a pledge that underscores our shared commitment to open, respectful dialogue. This pledge is an invitation to each of you to take an active role in fostering a culture of productive communication on our campus.
- Mini-Grants for Student Organizations – Many of our community’s best ideas come from our students. We are offering mini-grants to support student organizations in creating their own content and projects that contribute to Conversations for Change.
- Conversations for Change Challenge – Keep an eye out for more information on this exciting opportunity to engage and challenge yourself and our community in meaningful ways.
- Swag and Prices – Participation matters, and we will be offering prizes and giveaways to encourage everyone to take part in these important conversations.
In navigating a year inevitably marked by complex issues both nationally and globally, I urge you to embrace this special opportunity. Together, let’s model the necessity of seeing and appreciating the humanity in each other, especially when we may disagree.
I look forward to seeing how we, as one community, will rise to this challenge. I am confident we will make this year a defining chapter in the great legacy of our College.
Sincerely,
Bob Iuliano
President