An Open Letter to the Board of Trustees of Georgetown College

Specifically addressed to Randall Fox, senior member of the trustees and trustee representative on the Presidential Selection Committee:

“I’m surprised you’re here. … It’s obvious you didn’t like the man. … You don’t know what critical is.”

Those are the words you spoke to me, Mr. Fox—the very first words you spoke to me, directly, after walking into the Ward Room of the Ensor Learning Resource Center at the press conference announcing the 24^th president of Georgetown College. Words so gallingly transparent in their hostility and aggression, I was taken aback. I was taken aback not from the obvious fact that a man attempted to bully me but by the fact that a member of the College’s trustees—whom we supposedly trust with the continuation of the college itself—would act so openly hostile to a student. Your record as a member of the Georgetown College community reinforces this notion.

If this event were our only lesson in absurdity regarding the relationship the college community shares with a subsection of the trustees, I would be more inclined for complacency. Georgetown College, however, does not have that luxury. The perilously strained relationship the campus shares with some of its trustees is public sphere. Take for example an Op Ed found in the Georgetown News-Graphic on May 11, 2013. The writer publicly decried the perception that some Georgetown College Trustees were freely at odds with the campus community, saying,

This incident at Dr. Greene’s press conference on Monday further illustrates that there is much work to be done in strengthening the relationship that we share, and improving the very college that brings us all together.

“Bitterness and Mean-Spiritedness”

After the press conference, I asked you if you would like anything else on the record. You told me to be positive—not to be consumed by bitterness and mean-spiritedness. This is for you, Mr. Fox: this is my positive solution. Rather than seeking vengeance and slandering your name with baseless accusations as you so happily did to me, I offer this simple solution: create a dialogue. I request this of all board members, to facilitate an open discussion between students, faculty, staff, and yes, trustees. An open dialogue is of mutual interest, firstly and foremostly to clear the polluted air that shrouds this relationship we share.

In addition to clearing up any misconceptions held on both sides of the aisle, such an open dialogue would foster transparency. There is nothing more on this campus that students, faculty, and staff crave more than transparency—the free and open exchange of information clear of biases, clear of misinformation, and clear of distrust. The campus community certainly does not enjoy this distrustfulness; an open dialogue between our two camps would make great strides in eliminating such.

In fairness, there are some Georgetown College Trustees that are making amazing strides at facilitating such a dialogue. Some are making a legitimate effort to connect with the campus community. For that, I publicly praise and laud them for their efforts. Still too many, however, are much too content to run this show with a damaging philosophy, an attitude of superiority and disdain for the “underlings,” a group of which I am a part as a student.

What a better time to begin this than when we usher in a new era of leadership for Georgetown College. With the addition of Dr. Greene as our 24^th president, we are creating a new legacy for Georgetown. A transparent, open, and trustworthy Board of Trustees would usher in a sense of legitimacy and respect that would take years to build otherwise.

Mr. Fox, I’ve served with you for 3 years—going on 4—as a student representative on the board. Thus, I find myself in the unique position that most students do not enjoy. I understand, intimately, from where both groups derive their assumptions. Without this dialogue, Georgetown College will continue to suffer from this air of distrustfulness and misinformation. With this atmosphere, events like students being accosted by senior members of the Board of Trustees will continue to occur, which is nothing short of detrimental to the continuance of this amazing institution.

The onus, Mr. Fox and trustees, is now on you to make this happen.

DISCLAIMER: the above is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of WRVG.

Updated @ 5:59 PM 8/9/13 — “amazing strides at doing such.” to “amazing strides at facilitating such a dialogue.” for clarity and coherence