It’s a win.
After eight months of heated debate, the Elon University Board of Trustees, under guidance from the Vendor Policy Study Committee, has decided to keep Chick-fil-A as a university-affiliated food vendor. I commend them for their decision and strong leadership on this matter.
Let me be clear: This is a win for the entire Elon community and the idea of diversity universally. Through this decision, Elon and its leadership have decided to stand on the side of diversity, tolerance and long-term success.
Institutions of higher education within our country have the simple expectation to provide a safe environment where the opportunity to learn exists. At liberal arts universities like Elon, all students are required to engage in an extensive study of wide-ranging subject matters prior to focusing on their subject of choice.
There are more than 200 student organizations on our campus representing a wide variety of ideas, beliefs and goals. These are key reasons students travel from across the globe to study in the United States and, specifically, at Elon. Why should this opportunity to learn be limited to clubs and classes? The university should teach its students to continue learning beyond the walls of the classroom and outside the “Elon bubble” to the world in which we live and work.
The presence of both Starbucks and Chick-fil-A is the perfect example of such an opportunity.
The senior leadership for both of these companies has been on the record expressing opposing views on the subject of same-sex marriage, among other things. There are recognized religious organizations and individuals on campus whose sponsoring bodies oppose the stance Starbucks has taken, just as there are those organizations and individuals opposing the stance Chick-fil-A has taken.
Does this mean we should remove them both? I do not think those differences warrant the removal of either, but instead provide us with a glimpse of the world we are expected to face after graduation and an opportunity for positive learning. Through the decision to keep Chick-fil-A on campus and the encouragement of respectful dialogue on the subject, our university’s leadership has promoted an environment of respectful tolerance. They have done their job in creating opportunity through the preservation of difference and tolerance. It is now up to the student body to embrace these ideals and realize their potential.
[quote]So how do we realize this potential after such a seemingly divisive period? I would propose starting with a slogan. But before proceeding, I would like to be clear on one topic: I completely agree there are certain ideas and acts of hate that should be condemned by Elon, such as acts of violence and the racial slurs that inspired the “Not On Our Campus” campaign.[/quote]
That fitting slogan represents those things we do not want on our campus. Today I propose a new slogan representing those things we do want: “On Our Campus.”
On our campus, we will respect those unique characteristics and beliefs that explain us as individuals and use them to facilitate a synergistic result. On our campus, we believe through our collective vision and committed action a brighter future is possible. On our campus, we seek a respectful environment where the opportunity to find Numen Lumen through our differences is ever present.
And yes, thanks to a difficult decision by our courageous leaders, we will have Chick-fil-A on our campus.