Thank you, Richard, for your thoughtful message. Many of us on this list
feel that Virginia Tech is a special member of our family of schools. We
were shaken by last week's horrible events but immensely moved by the
numerous expressions of solidarity with the fallen around the nation and
the world.
You pray that we might learn something from this. The connectedness to
which you refer has a healing effect. It seems in stark contrast to much
of everyday life. Perhaps the academic analog of connectedness (of
solidarity) is collegiality. In a world of danger derived from violence,
disease, and natural disaster, it is good to find friendship,
understanding, and support among colleagues. These qualities are often in
short supply.
Is solidarity a remedy only for the ill and injured or is it something we
should build in normal times? Should our departments be cool and
competitive or should they cultivate craft and collegiality?
Is there a third option?
"We are all Hokies."
David Jacobs
Morgan State University
http://dc.david.jacobs.googlepages.com/welcome.html
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