Summer has officially ended, and the fall semester is underway. As a new academic year begins, I cannot help but reflect on the past year. The year was full of academic wins, personal successes, and lots of great memories with friends and family. Despite these wins, however, it is hard to ignore the unsettled, restless, and exasperated voices of the past year.
My position as an Interfaith Fellow for our campus’ Center for Interfaith Dialogue (CID) has enabled me to be a liaison between university administration and students. As such, I have heard students’ cries for support, acknowledgment, and cooperation from the university. Students and student organizations feel unheard and unseen by our faculty and administration.
Perhaps it is this feeling of being overlooked and uncared for that has led students to turn on each other. Although the reasons are speculative, it is impossible to ignore the violence and hatred our campus bred over the past year. Antisemitism, Islamophobia, sexual assault, carjacking, and violence of all other sorts had happened – repeatedly – during the 2023-2024 academic year, and this new semester appears to be following in its footsteps. Students are distressed and discontented. A solution to all of this has yet to be found.
Just a few months ago, news headlines were buzzing with reports about encampments and student pro-Palestine protestors across United States’ campuses. Our campus had an encampment of its own, which spurred feelings ranging from support to indifference, anger, fear, and amusement. Although the student protesters have since reached an agreement with our chancellor and university administration, every student still has their own deeply held belief about the matter. With university protests gaining traction, the 2024 presidential election looming, and so much hate and violence on our campuses, I ask myself, how will we survive this?
Undoubtedly, it is hard to avoid an “us versus them,” “you versus me” mentality. Republican versus democrat, pro-Palestine versus pro-Israel, the list goes on. It has become nearly impossible to look past our differences; the “other side” becomes a representation of everything “our side” stands against. We – consciously or not – rob the “other” of their humanity. Reducing individuals to their opinions, simply because they differ from our own, is easier, perhaps, than reaching across the chasm in search of commonality.
I do not need to tell you that this type of thinking perpetuates a myriad of hate and violence. However, it also perpetuates a lack of cooperation, respect, and consideration for others, which is equally damaging. How are we to do anything productive without mutual respect? If the past year has taught me anything, it is that we cannot accomplish anything good or fruitful while villainizing those around us. Unfortunately, I do not have all the answers about where to go from here.
However, the last year has also taught me, in the words of United States Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, that “there is more power in unity than division.” Student protestors have shown us that uniting under shared convictions is a sure way to create change; our challenge is to unite while preserving others’ humanity.
While things feel wildly out of our control, I encourage you to focus on the things you can control, like how you view and treat those who differ from you. I beg you to fight against the prevailing narrative that the “other side” does not deserve your respect. In an act of radicalism, search for – and cling onto – the humanity of your neighbors and coworkers. To my fellow students: do the same with your professors, roommates, and peers. Resist writing off that friend in English class simply because your views differ. Teach your friends to do the same. Lead by example. While it is not fun or easy, searching for our shared humanity is our only hope for survival. Join me in this fight. Let’s make this year even better than the last.