In recent weeks, as the nation has approached the tenth anniversary of 9/11, we’ve read and heard many remembrances of people’s personal experiences and of the friends and loved ones lost that day. These accounts are moving and vivid reminders of the devastating impact the tragedy continues to have on the psyche of the nation as well as on the many individuals who were affected both directly and indirectly by the events of that day.
Even though Cal State Northridge is located thousands of miles away from where the incidents of September 11, 2001 occurred, the campus was not untouched by its effects. Many in the campus community experienced profound grief, sadness and personal loss. Like many throughout the nation, for the first time in generations, the sense of security and stability that was part of our everyday lives gave way to uncertainty.
In a country as diverse as ours, it’s understandable that there will be great differences in the way people react and feel after such events, and the way they deal with and make sense of what occurred. At Cal State Northridge, I was proud that we came together as a University community to remember the victims as well as honor the examples of sacrifice, service and heroism that were exhibited both during and after 9/11. Just as importantly, as a learning community that promotes respect for all people, values the richness of diversity, and honors the expression of differing views, 9/11 presented an opportunity for us to test and re-affirm our commitment to these ideals.
In the years since September 11, 2001, the nation has continued to heal and move forward while never forgetting the profound loss and sacrifice of that day. It seems fitting, then, that the country has agreed that the best way to honor the lives that were lost and the heroism of that day is by designating it as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Indeed, the spirit of this commemoration represents many of the same goals and ideals that we, as a University community, strive to instill in our students by teaching them the importance and value of service to the community. It is a meaningful, constructive message that appropriately honors the memory of those who were lost on that day, and one that I hope all of us will take to heart as we reflect on the events of ten years ago.
As part of the National Day of Service and Remembrance observance, the Institute for Sustainability is co-sponsoring a campus orange picking event on Sunday, September 11, to support local food pantries.
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Below are links to past messages and remarks by the President related to 9/11:
President Koester’s letter to the campus community about the September 11 tragedy (September 12, 2001):
President Koester’s remarks at the 9/11 Day of Remembrance event (September 14, 2001)
President Koester’s remarks at the 9/11 First Year Commemoration event (September 11, 2002)
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The President’s 12th Annual Convocation address to faculty and staff is scheduled for Thursday, August 25, 2011, on the Oviatt Library’s south lawn. The event will begin with the traditional coffee with light refreshments at 8:30 a.m., followed by the President’s Convocation address at 9 a.m.
The Convocation address is entitled, “California State University, Northridge: A Place of Abundance.” Please note that this is President Koester’s final Convocation before she steps down at the end of the calendar year.
The Convocation traditionally kicks off the new academic year for University faculty and staff.
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Early this year, I blogged about speaking at the faculty retreat in January on “Dialogue Through Uncertain Times,” which built on the theme of this year’s retreat, “Educating Through Uncertain Times.” In that address and at my blog, I discussed the importance of communication and dialogue during times of great challenge. At a moment when the campus and our broader society face serious challenges like the state budget, the economy, and other difficult issues that require our nation to find common ground within great political polarity, the importance of listening, active engagement, and respecting and accommodating varying points of view seems more crucial than ever. As an academic institution charged with instilling such values in our students who will serve as our future leaders, Cal State Northridge has a responsibility to serve as a model for meaningful and constructive public discourse.
Given these overarching issues, it seemed natural and appropriate for the University to appoint the Rev. James Lawson, a noted pastor and civil rights justice leader who worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as a visiting faculty member at Cal State Northridge this academic year. This is part of the campus-wide initiative on Civil Discourse & Social Change.
The Rev. Lawson’s public lectures have been the centerpiece of the initiative. As a leading theorist and tactician on effecting change through nonviolent means, Rev. Lawson has spoken about how we as a society ought to nurture ways to address challenges that promote dialogue and serve to celebrate and acknowledge the diversity of people and their varied points of view. The country appears to be at a crossroads: civil engagement seems in short supply, evidence is often ignored in favor of demagoguery, and hate labels and even physical attacks are a common and accepted form of communication and entertainment on television and in our culture, even among elected leaders. In such a landscape, Dr. Lawson’s message of peaceful and meaningful dialogue provides a powerful counterpoint. I had the pleasure to attend Rev. Lawson’s October 11 talk, which was inspiring and instructive.
On November 9, the Rev. Lawson will deliver his last public lecture of the semester, “From Theory to Practice: Gandhi and King’s Perspectives,” speaking about the legacy and lessons of Mohandas Gandhi, who developed the modern concept of bringing about major social change through nonviolence, which in turn inspired the work of Dr. King and Rev. Lawson. Indeed, Rev. Lawson spent time in India, where he studied the principles that Gandhi and his followers developed.
The Rev. Lawson will deliver his lecture on November 9, from 4 to 6:45 p.m., in the Ferman Presentation Room of the Oviatt Library. Please visit the Civil Discourse & Social Change Initiative website for more details. Listed at the site are the many student organizations and University colleges and departments that made this initiative and Rev. Lawson’s lecture series possible—my thanks to them for their efforts to host Rev. Lawson.
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Every 10 years, the federal government—as mandated by the U.S. Constitution—is required to obtain an accurate count of all people living in the United States. This count affects how much federal funding is distributed to our region. Despite every effort to get an accurate count, every Census results in an undercount. In 2000, the City of Los Angeles had the second highest undercount in the country, resulting in the loss of $206 million over 10 years to the region.
As a college campus that serves the community, we have a special responsibility to help ensure an accurate Census count. In addition to a civic responsibility, this is the first Census in which college students living away from home while attending college are counted where they are living.
Like faculty and staff, students living off campus began receiving their Census forms in the mail on March 15. Students living in on-campus residence halls will receive their Census forms in April or May. Forms should be filled out and returned as soon as possible after receiving them.
It’s critical that we do our part to get an accurate count for our region. For these reasons, I urge everyone to look for your Census packet in the mail and complete and return the forms as soon as possible. And, encourage others to do the same. Remember, our region will benefit greatly from everyone’s participation.
More information about the Census can be obtained by calling the Los Angeles Office of Census 2010 at 213-978-0301, or by visiting the 2010 Census website. This includes information about how information provided in the Census forms is completely confidential.
Thank you for doing your part to ensure an accurate count in 2010.
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