Building leaders for a changing (and troubled) world

By Myles Brand, President, Indiana University

But even as we were eagerly anticipating this new academic year, we paused last week to remember the tragic events of one year ago—Sept. 11, 2001.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, people came together on our campuses seeking mutual support and answers. We reached out to Moslem students and others on campus who felt fearful. That has always been part of our university ethos. Now it took on a new urgency.

Sept. 11 changed America. But the direction of that change is still uncertain. Living in a democratic nation, all of us as individuals can impact our nation’s future. Our university and the individuals who teach, study and work here must continue to play a constructive part in that ongoing dialogue. The education that our students receive will be vital.

So even as we paused to consider the significance of Sept. 11, we looked forward to meeting the challenge of providing students with the best possible education to become leaders in this changing world. No single strategy will allow us to meet that challenge. But a comprehensive effort will.

We must continue to make a positive case to state leaders about the importance of higher education funding to Indiana’s economy and quality of life. We must rely on the generosity of friends and alumni to support programs to enhance the quality of education. We must invest in the infrastructure necessary to support the education of this generation and the next.

Earlier this month, we held a groundbreaking for the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hall on the IUPUI campus, a project that will transform the former IU School of Law-Indianapolis building into the Herron School of Art’s new home. In November, we will dedicate the new Kelley School of Business Graduate and Executive Education Center at IU Bloomington.

And we must continue to find outstanding leaders to guide our university. This fall, we will be installing two such leaders as chancellors: Sandra Patterson-Randles at IU Southeast and Una Mae Reck at IU South Bend.

Clearly, the bumper crop of new students is not the only sign of change at IU. But what cannot change is our determination to give all of our students access to the education they will need to help make their world a better place.

What’s on your mind? E-mail President Brand at: pres@indiana.edu

http://www.indiana.edu/~pres