Dear Arts and Sciences Community,

This week saw the culmination of a highly contested presidential election. In the last few days, there has been a rise in activism and also in incidents of harassment and hate. It pains me to imagine the fear that these actions have created. Although we are dedicated to free expression, we cannot tolerate any activities or behaviors that hurt others.

In the College of Arts and Sciences, we embrace inclusion and diversity and are committed to sustaining a culture where all views are acknowledged and all individuals are treated with civility and respect.

Academically, the College of Arts and Sciences represents the arts, sciences and everything in between — including the humanities and the social and behavioral sciences.

For me, the “and” includes much more.

It’s where we come together as artists, scientists and scholars. And means there is a place for everyone here. We encourage academic freedom and individual freedom. It means we are always striving to do better, always asking, “And?”

The Ohio State University has a long legacy in this country as a public land-grant institution supporting the key tenets of teaching, research and service. The current political and social environment is complex. As perhaps the most expansive arts and sciences college in the country, we have the unique qualification — and the unique obligation — to address these complexities and provide dialogue and context that can help us understand the views of others so that we all can move forward together.

I hope to see you all at these events, where we can come together to look back, understand the present and, focusing on the future, ask, “and what’s next?”

Let me assure you that we are committed to our students’ safety and success; please be aware of the resources offered to safeguard this commitment.

Sincerely,

David Manderscheid
Executive Dean and Vice Provost