and to the students of NIU–
“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.” Elie Wiesel
When something like this happens, it is a reminder that we have to care for every person and student in our communities. And that we cannot let ourselves become calloused, but must raise a light for our students to see by. We cannot accept this as the way it is in our worlds or in our students’ worlds. We have to believe in more for all of us.
And we have to extend a hand, say hello in the hallway, see every student, and to build a community of care. We have to teach our students the power of attention to each other.
We cannot be indifferent.
We have to have a vision of what once was and what could be.
And we have to shine a light for our students for that spring day which will come.
“But the future will roll all away.
Take cheer lonely heart the deep gloom
Will break forth and effulgence of May
Smile over thy beauty and bloom.
— Colfax Burgoyne Harman. Clouds.
Thank you