Reflections on President Statements

 

Hardly a week goes by without a controversy or tension on college campuses. With the internet and social media, these issues can be far-reaching. Cal State Fullerton is not immune to this experience. Understandably, these situations are usually followed by demands for the university president to communicate in favor of or against the issue. They often prompt the question: Should I, as the university president, speak up and write a statement?

This is a complex and nuanced question that must take into consideration that Cal State Fullerton is a public university that serves a large and diverse student population, with unique perspectives, opinions and lived experiences. With roughly 41,000 students and 4,000 employees, Cal State Fullerton is a richly diverse and inclusive academic community, and a microcosm of our local, national and international landscape.

Guided by our university’s value of inclusivity, I find myself balancing the tension that comes with safeguarding and fostering respectful learning environments for an increasingly diverse student population, with the important role that universities have always played — being places where we value and encourage the open exchange of ideas and opinions. Below are some of the themes and questions I consider in deciding whether to make a written statement. I share them with you with the hope that you will understand why I did or did not respond to an issue that you may find important.

 

Statements Central to the Mission of the University

As president, I regularly communicate and make statements on a variety of topics that support our mission.

The aim of these messages is to celebrate and inform the Titan and external community of our accomplishments, university initiatives, advancements in research, creative activities and the contributions and successes of our students, faculty, staff and alumni. I am always eager to elevate Titan achievements to the broader community and to amplify news of important and exciting developments such as grants, donations, rankings and recognitions. In addition to informational and celebratory messages, there are times when emerging issues, events and safety-related concerns that directly impact the university prompt the need to communicate widely about them to protect the safety and well-being of the university.

 

Deciding Whether to Make a Statement

Concerns that are of high importance to the broad university community, but do not originate on our campus, enter into a gray area and require more consideration. The decision becomes more complicated when I am asked to communicate on a variety of local, state, federal or world events, conflicts and policies that do not directly impact our core mission but nonetheless are deeply felt by members of our community. When an external event begins to impact the university and our campus community, I may issue a statement to reaffirm our values and respond to the concerns of our Titan community.

There are also occasions when I must refrain from commenting. I cannot and do not speak on legal matters, including ongoing investigations, personnel issues, student conduct matters and collective bargaining negotiations that occur at the system level.

You should also know that as educators and administrators at a public state university, we cannot use our public positions or state resources to endorse candidates or take political positions. We have a special responsibility and obligation to respect all sides of political and social issues.

In short, the decision on whether to make a statement is complex and, ultimately, a judgment call, and one that may not be satisfactory to all members of the university community. I hope that you can appreciate that in my leadership role, I must embody our academic mission and values, represent all Titans, and provide space for democracy to thrive in a marketplace of ideas.

 

Support for the Well-Being of Students and Employees

As a community, Cal State Fullerton strives to provide a culture of care for all Titans. If a statement is not issued on a particular topic, it should not be viewed as complicity.

Cal State Fullerton is home to many affinity programs, student organizations and clubs, and diverse communities. When external events impact our Titans, it is our practice to extend resources and support directly to them. This support is available regardless of a statement being issued.

 

First Amendment and Campus Time, Place and Manner Guidelines

Cal State Fullerton must always be a learning environment and a marketplace of ideas in which diverse perspectives are explored in a safe and inclusive learning environment. One way the university demonstrates its commitment to these ideals is by providing space and conditions that encourage the free exchange of thoughts and ideas from multiple perspectives. Although these discussions may make some feel uncomfortable or angry, free speech has never been more important. Enshrined in the First Amendment of our nation’s Constitution, this right is integral to democracy and to increasing our understanding of one another.

We invite our students to work with faculty and staff mentors who can guide them in how to amplify their voices within our time, place and manner guidelines. The Supreme Court has said that public entities like Cal State Fullerton have discretion to regulate and restrict the time, place and manner of speech, provided that the guidelines are neutral to the content they regulate. The right to speak on campus is not a right to speak any time, at any place and in any manner that a person wishes. The campus can regulate where, when and how speech occurs to ensure the functioning of the campus and achieve important goals, such as protecting the education process and public safety.

Providing information here on free speech, time, place and manner is important because even though I am limited as a public university president from speaking on some topics, Cal State Fullerton is a thriving marketplace of ideas and welcomes thoughtful debate and critical conversations. Please visit the CSUF Free Speech website for more information on time, place and manner guidelines.

Note of Gratitude: All universities and colleges are unique communities, but we often share similar pressure to issue statements. I would like to express gratitude for the Office of the UCI Chancellor’s “On Statements,” which provided inspiration for my Reflection on Presidential Statements.
– Dr. Sylvia A. Alva,
Cal State Fullerton President