August letter to the university community
Dear W students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends,
I want to reaffirm that as a public university, The W is responsible for educating all students, with nearly 90% of the fall enrollment being Mississippi residents. To be successful in this mission, we must be welcoming to all.
Nazism, racism, and violence, such as took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, this past weekend, have no place in a civil society. Hatred stands in opposition to the values of our university.
Our university is a place where critical thinking is nurtured, differences of opinion and belief are explored and celebrated, and the very best of who we are as a people is passed from one generation of students to the next.
We are — and we remain — unwaveringly committed to embracing differences of opinion, thought, cultural background, experience, and identity to foster an inclusive and intellectually enriched university community.
The W is strengthened by our remarkable diversity and the accompanying civility that are reflected in the university’s wonderful spirit of inclusion and acceptance and mutual respect.
I ask each of you to join with us as we fully embrace that “We study for light to bless with light.”
Sincerely, Jim Borsig
Borsig is president of Mississippi University for Women.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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