Principals statement to Senate

Abstract

It behoves us as an institution to reflect, I believe, on our essential message to the world and how that message is lived and experienced in the life of our university. I was reminded that such introspection is warranted when I read an article by Stephen K Mittelsett, President of Richland College, Texas in the Winter 2009 edition of The Presidency1, the magazine of the American Council on Education (ACE). Dr Mittelsett recalls Mahatma Gandhi’s quip to an enquiring journalist that it was important to be the change we wish to see in the world. To the question what his message to the world was, Gandhi replied “My life is my message.” Mittelsett observes that that is as true of the individual as it is of the institution. Institutions project a moral message about their values, their significance and their vision. To paraphrase Mittelsett, if we intend our students to be builders of a sustainable world, of a caring society, of excellence and achievement characterised by social justice and equity, economic sufficiency and a healthy environment then the manner in which we relate to one another, conduct our personal and institutional relations, and our attitude to our work and to society must not be at odds with what we believe.