Opening Remarks

President James R. Ramsey
University Forum
March 2, 2004

Thank you for being here.

It is important that we convene as a campus community:

It is important for us to talk—everyone has a voice. It is important for us to listen.

It is important for us to discuss actions that have been taken and next steps. It is important for us to recognize areas of agreement as well as to recognize different perspectives about how to deal with the issues we face. It is important for us to recognize that we will disappoint some individuals and draw praise from others.

The last several months have been difficult for us. The past weeks have been painful for me, as well as others. I have tried on several occasions in the past to communicate to the campus community the core values and beliefs that I hold dear.

In the past three weeks I communicated my beliefs in strong opposition to hate groups and their presence on our campus. Unfortunately my campus communication stating my beliefs and values were not seen by many, especially our students.

You, our students, presented a list of demands to us at the beginning of the last campus forum, almost two weeks ago. Having just received the demands at the start of the forum, I thought it was more appropriate to listen to your issues and your feelings. Some concluded that the issues discussed were not issues that we were committed to or passionate about resolving. This is absolutely not true.

To you our students – nothing is more important to me, more dear to me, than you—our U of L students.

Your safety and well-being are of absolute importance to us. Ensuring that you, our students, have the opportunity to be successful and reach your full potential is why we are here. If the climate on campus, the racial climate, the climate of openness and inclusivity on campus interferes with you ability to succeed, then we are failing you.

We must do better. We must change.

When you, our students, are concerned, we are concerned; when you are troubled, we are troubled. Please do not think otherwise.

Both before the forum two weeks ago, and then especially after the forum, we have spent hour after hour, day after day looking at each issue and then more specifically each demand. I said we would take your demands seriously—we have; and our commitment to these issues will not stop with this discussion today.

We have consulted with faculty, staff, our rapid response team, individuals off campus, and most importantly you—our students.

We have tried to be sensitive to every point of view, to every perspective, to put ourselves in your position the very best we can—but we know that we are not you. Still, we have agonized, challenged alternative points of view, and in the final analysis we have tried our best—applying every effort and every ounce of energy.

We have learned many things. I have learned that goals and measures are not enough, for they do not reflect how you feel on campus day and night. And so we are now gathered to respond to the demands presented to us, to discuss the steps taken so far and our next steps.

Concurrent with this session I am again conveying by e-mail to the entire campus community a statement against saying that I do not want the Klan on campus, that I am against separation and hate.

Dr. Willihnganz will now walk us through each step taken and next steps.