Finding Commonality

Just a few weeks ago, I had the privilege of welcoming the class of 2027 to their new Tulane home. As they settle in and get to know their new friends, new campus, and new city, there are countless opportunities for them to interact with classmates who are different from themselves. And you know what? I can’t wait. Because those interactions are not only what make universities unique and important—it might just be how we begin to unify our country.

Our greatest achievements as a society come from common goals and shared understanding. They come from people with different backgrounds, different experiences, and different perspectives all working together—not for oneself, but for one’s own. When we engage with other people, we learn a lot—about our differences, our individual journeys, and our shared humanity. It elevates and enriches our lives; it is part of our lifelong education. When we unite to confront and overcome the challenges before us, we create solutions far greater than any of us could ever attain alone. It is how we developed vaccines, how we traveled to space, and how we amended the Constitution. It’s how we make progress; it’s how we create change.

This is especially true for universities. Our community draws its strengths from the chemistry between our differences and our commonality. We are a diverse campus, drawing together students from across the country and around the world—the class of 2027 comes from 49 different states and 34 different countries!? We represent different races, religions, ethnicities, and experiences; we hold different beliefs and have different values. But despite these differences, we all have our school in common.

Our greatest successes come from what we all contribute to our community. Racism, sexism, antisemitism, homophobia, and other forms of bigotry are abhorrent for many reasons, including that they prevent us from building a better community through mutual respect. But our differences are no match for all we have in common—or all we can accomplish together.

As we begin a new school year, let us remember the things we share and use that as a starting place to find more common ground. We can—and should—talk about the hardest topics, but we must approach them from a place of respect and reason. We must strive for compromise, not seek capitulation. Every member of our community deserves civility. We work, live, and learn side-by-side; that’s what our university is all about. We ask for the grace to grow, change, discover, and understand—and we must allow others the same grace.

There is no denying the deep divisions in our society, whether they are cultural, ideological, or political. We need not ignore them or wish them away; they are real, and they are significant. There are undoubtedly times, in the face of injustice and hatred, to condemn the worst of humanity. But if we are to succeed as a community, as a society, and as a nation, we cannot unilaterally reject cooperation and commonality. We cannot treat every interaction as a battle to be won. We cannot dwell in the dark chasms between us, where nothing good can grow. Together, through respect and understanding, we must step into the light.

Like the class of 2027, we can create a community where groups and individuals can work together, listen to each other, and find a way forward that makes the future better for everyone. We can model civility, caring, and compassion, leading society by the strength of our example. This is what universities should be about. This is what we value at Tulane.