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Siena College was founded as a liberal arts institution in the Franciscan and Catholic traditions, and we have proudly embraced these traditions for the 85 years of our history. As we begin our new academic year, I would like to address the issue of the free speech rights of Siena College students and employees. The attention I am devoting to this important topic is in response to current political and social divisions in our country.
I assure our community that those who intelligently and respectfully express viewpoints on any subject that differ from those of the Catholic Church, the Franciscan order, or Siena as an institution, have the right to do so and will not face discipline or repudiation in any way by the College.
Siena has just updated the language in its Student Handbook to strengthen and reaffirm this position. Every student has the expectation of “the free and responsible expression of ideas and opinions, without fear of retribution, including peaceful dissent, that will not disrupt or interfere with the orderly operation of the College.” The handbook now goes on to state that the exercise of these rights and responsibilities be made “in a reasonable and respectful manner that is consistent with the College's Franciscan and Catholic traditions of compassion and empathy.”
Note that individual or group views and opinions are not required to be in accordance with Franciscan and Catholic traditions, but rather, simply that the expression of these views and opinions must be made in a compassionate and empathetic manner.
We are a Catholic institution, but we are also a liberal arts institution. The two attributes need not be mutually exclusive. These are challenging times for our nation, but we gather on this campus as members of a college community dedicated to the free and open exploration of ideas and opinions. The vigorous discussion of contentious topics is a valuable part of the life of the academy where the classroom is the marketplace of ideas. Indeed, the viability and vitality of our American republic counts on an educated, informed, and engaged electorate where citizens have rights and responsibilities. We will do our part at Siena to help our nation rise to this moment.
I wish the Siena community all the best as we begin a new year of learning.