After the crisis and drama at SLU last fall, we write as faculty with gratitude for actions taken by the trustees to date, in anticipation of further actions and with great hope for the future of SLU.

We look forward to working with Dr. Ellen Harshman as Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, and we welcome Dr. Manoj Patankar back to SLU’s faculty.

We are especially appreciative of two important steps taken by the Board of Trustees.

First, evidence and information shared indicates that the Board of Trustees functioned as a true deliberative body when it met in mid-December. Boards inevitably have close proximity to upper administrators and can be “captured,” or unduly influenced by them. In early December, concern was widespread that SLU might have a “captured” board. This concern heightened when efforts to communicate by students, staff and faculty were met with silence, and when statements from the Board of Trustees were not perceived to address problems raised.

So, we were very heartened to learn that the trustees engaged in serious and independent deliberations during their December meeting.

Second, individual trustees have taken the initiative to reach out and respond to faculty. We hope instances of such contact by trustees have been offered to students and staff as well. This direct communication is very helpful as we seek to understand one another and the realities we face. In recent weeks, we and other faculty have had opportunities to speak directly with trustees and begin a dialogue about the future, including opportunities for extended, candid, face-to-face conversation. We hope there will be more such meetings so we can deepen our ability to work together as companions and collaborators in SLU’s mission.

As the crisis unfolded last fall, we learned that many students, staff and faculty have, for years, felt disrespected and undervalued. We learned that while many students, staff and faculty are dedicated to SLU’s Jesuit mission, many do not feel a sense of pride in SLU as an institution. They feel at times alienated by a perceived disconnect between the mission we espouse and the structures and norms within our institution.

We are confident that our trustees are now engaged in serious dialogue about these problems. Their responsibility and difficult task is to take action that will set the stage for a bright future at SLU. Our responsibility and challenge is to follow-up on the actions the Board of Trustees take, to discern our vision for SLU together as a community, and to dedicate ourselves to achieving that vision.

At SLU, we excel at the pursuit of our Jesuit mission in many regards—in articulation of our mission; in opportunities for spiritual development; in our teaching, research, curriculum and intercultural educational experiences; in our health care services; in our service to social justice causes; to name but a few. Paradoxically though, we have arguably entered into a period of crisis at SLU because we have failed to manifest important dimensions of SLU’s Jesuit mission in some of our own internal structures and norms.

In fall 2009, Douglas Marcouiller, SJ (Provincial Superior, Jesuits of the Missouri Province), articulated some of the components of his vision of SLU as a Jesuit university in a talk titled “The UCA Martyrs’ Message: 20 Years Later.” His vision –of a Jesuit university as a place of reasoned discourse, as a place that gives voice to the voiceless, and that engages in discovery –offers a compelling series of challenges for us at SLU. (A video of Father Marcouiller’s presentation can be found on the Mission and Ministry web pages, at the Ignatian Lunch link.)

Consider the Jesuit university as a place of reasoned discourse. The purpose of reasoned discourse is to shed light on social realities so we might all come together in solidarity. In a number of respects, we have failed to come together in solidarity at SLU, even while we have helped others do so. Building on the six initial steps offered by the Board of Trustees and endorsed by the Faculty Senate, what additional actions will institutionalize reasoned discourse and help us come together in solidarity at SLU?

Consider the vocation of the Jesuit university to give voice to the voiceless. At SLU, many have chosen to silence their own voices because they have been afraid to speak out, or because they perceived that speaking out would accomplish little. As a result of complacency, and by tolerating behaviors that have fostered a culture of fear, we have all failed to give voice to the voiceless at SLU, even while we have raised up the voices of the marginalized in society. What actions will change this culture of fear into a culture of light-shedding-openness and understanding at SLU?

Consider the Jesuit university as a place of discovery. Discovery is a process of revealing truth.  At SLU, a culture of secrecy is perceived to cover-up truth rather than to reveal it. What actions will dismantle this culture of secrecy and rebuild trust at SLU?

What is our community’s vision of SLU as a Catholic, Jesuit university?

We invite all members of the campus community – students, staff, faculty, trustees – to engage one another in reasoned discourse as companions and collaborators, and to grapple with these questions throughout the spring semester.

We note in particular that a number of discussion opportunities are being organized and sponsored by the Arts and Sciences Interdisciplinary Forum. Some of the topics include:

• Shared governance. Panelists will comment on the AAUP statement on shared governance on Thursday, January 31, 6:30 PM, in the Pere Marquette Gallery, Dubourg Hall.
• What does it mean to be a Catholic, Jesuit University? Panelists will offer reflections on Alasdair MacIntyre’s recent book, God, Philosophy, Universities. Details forthcoming.
• The managerial university. Panelists will offer reflections on Gaye Tuchman’s recent book, Wannabe U:  Inside the Corporate University. Details forthcoming.

Throughout the crisis, the voices of students, staff, and faculty have called for a return to SLU’s mission on our campus. As the Board discerns what it should further do to heed those calls, and in anticipation of its actions, we can begin to engage in reasoned discourse. We hope that discourse will serve to launch an on-going process of discernment about our community’s vision for SLU and as a call to action for all. As the Board takes a leadership role in setting the stage, we must build on their work and ensure a bright future for SLU as a vibrant, innovative, and mission-focused Catholic, Jesuit university.

In a spirit of collaboration and companionship, and looking forward to springtime at SLU,

Gregory Beabout, Associate Professor of Philosophy

Kenneth Parker, Associate Professor of Historical Theology

Bonnie Wilson, Associate Professor of Economics