The Un-Comfort Zone

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Fri, 13 Oct 2017 00:40:32 +0000
Uncategorized, AAC&U, Brian Bruess, civility, fiat lux, hope, Inauguration, Lee Knefelkamp, liberal arts, light, Maxine Greene

When President Brian Bruess ’90 chose “fiat lux” (“Let there be light”) for the theme of his presidential inauguration (celebrated yesterday) he may not have anticipated a disquisition on discomfort and the liberal arts. Nevertheless, that is what Lee Knefelkamp, professor emeritus of psychology and education at Columbia University delivered – along with a message about light and hope. Knefelkamp, a senior scholar of the Association of American Colleges & Universities, was at the ceremony to offer greetings on behalf of the AAC&U.

… the development of discernment – discernment – is at the very heart of the liberal arts tradition. … Discernment requires the courage to engage in the study of new ideas, even those which make us uncomfortable: It isn’t the liberal arts if it doesn’t make us uncomfortable. Discernment requires taking seriously the perspectives of others: authors, researchers, professors, friends and those with whom we disagree. It requires that we engage particularly, with civility and respect, with those with whom we disagree. And discernment requires the courage to wrestle with the complexity of cultures, wrestle with belief systems and wrestle with seemingly intractable problems. But most of all, discernment demands hope and the desire to bring light to the darkness of cynicism; the darkness of division; and the darkness of despair among peoples. And as the philosopher Maxine Greene has written, a liberal arts education bestows on each of us the personal obligation to be a light in dark times.

Brian and Carol … learned the blessing of light and hope here at this college, in their youth. … But as adults they have been lights of hope for so many students, for so many colleagues, for so many friends and indeed, deeply, for their own family and two extraordinary children. We celebrate that they bring this light home today. The Association of American Colleges & Universities not only congratulates Brian on his presidency … Brian, we look forward to not only your leadership at St. Norbert, but we look forward to your leadership even increasing, nationally.

Watch the inauguration ceremony, and look for a full report of the inauguration of the eighth president of St. Norbert College in your Fall/Winter 2017 magazine, in mailboxes early November.