Freedom of expression, intellectual freedom, and constructive dialogue will pave the way for students and faculty alike to pursue all of their educational goals within the University of Wyoming’s principles initiative.
In the midst of turmoil and unrest in both Wyoming and throughout the country, President Seidel created a working group that ultimately produced the Statement of the University of Wyoming Principles.
These principles were intended to foster a culture of free expression, free pursuit of knowledge, and constructive dialogue across different facets of the educational world.
Martha McCaughey, the co-chair of the now dissolved working group, has been tasked with following the progress of the initiatives and helping with their practical implementation.
She stated that all universities need principles such as these, but a lot of them have lost their way, “UW is a place that has always championed the principles, they are the nutrients for the fertile soil that is the University of Wyoming, helping students and faculty grow.” The implementation of these principles in a more official context is a sort of quality enhancement plan to make sure that all we do on campus reflects them.
McCaughey noted that students should care for these principles, though they may not seem important to daily student life, “These principles can seem abstract and irrelevant, that’s how I would’ve seen them back when I was a student. I was focusing on figuring out my major and finding a career just like most students are. But, in the end, everyone wants to be exposed to all of the knowledge, experience, and insight available. We cannot shelter students from the incredible ideas they can explore. In order to achieve innovation, we need an open atmosphere to discuss new ideas.”
At a more practical level, McCaughey pointed out that, “employers are looking not only for critical and creative thinkers, but also for tolerant people who can talk and work with people who see things differently than they do.”
In the context of implementation, all divisions on campus have been working hard: with student affairs updating the student code of conduct and the principles being added to student and faculty orientation.
The enrollment division has also added free speech and dialogue to the drop down list of potential interests for incoming students.
These students are then able to pursue free expression and dialogue as interests on campus primarily by participating in BridgeUWYO, the University of Wyoming chapter of BridgeUSA.
The UW principles are an initiative that the university has been exemplifying for years. Putting them on paper and allowing them to exist in an official sense will encourage a community and culture of freedom of expression, intellectual freedom, and constructive dialogue in a way that will draw students and faculty in, and propel them to new heights in their knowledge and their careers.
Editor’s Note: The editor of this article is an active member of BridgeUWYO. However, the inclusion of BridgeUWYO in this article was freely quoted and is not connected to any personal involvement.
